A Chronological Daily BibleStudy of the Old Testament
7-Day Sectionswith a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and a PracticalDailyApplication

Week 29

Sunday (Psalms 7, 27, 31, 34, 52, 56, 120, 140-142)

7:1 A musical composition by David, which he sang to the Lord concerning a Benjaminite named Cush.

O Lord my God, in you I have taken shelter.

Deliver me from all who chase me! Rescue me!

7:2 Otherwise they will rip me to shreds like a lion;

they will tear me to bits and no one will be able to rescue me.

7:3 O Lord my God, if I have done what they say,

or am guilty of unjust actions,

7:4 or have wronged my ally,

or helped his lawless enemy,

7:5 may an enemy relentlessly chase me and catch me;

may he trample me to death

and leave me lying dishonored in the dust. (Selah)

7:6 Stand up angrily, Lord!

Rise up with raging fury against my enemies!

Wake up for my sake and execute the judgment you have decreed for them!

7:7 The countries are assembled all around you;

take once more your rightful place over them!

7:8 The Lord judges the nations.

Vindicate me, Lord, because I am innocent,

because I am blameless, O Exalted One!

7:9 May the evil deeds of the wicked come to an end!

But make the innocent secure,

O righteous God,

you who examine inner thoughts and motives!

7:10 The Exalted God is my shield,

the one who delivers the morally upright.

7:11 God is a just judge;

he is angry throughout the day.

7:12 If a person does not repent, God sharpens his sword

and prepares to shoot his bow.

7:13 He prepares to use deadly weapons against him;

he gets ready to shoot flaming arrows.

7:14 See the one who is pregnant with wickedness,

who conceives destructive plans,

and gives birth to harmful lies –

7:15 he digs a pit

and then falls into the hole he has made.

7:16 He becomes the victim of his own destructive plans

and the violence he intended for others falls on his own head.

7:17 I will thank the Lord for his justice;

I will sing praises to the sovereign Lord!

27:1 By David. The Lord delivers and vindicates me!

I fear no one!

The Lord protects my life!

I am afraid of no one!

27:2 When evil men attack me to devour my flesh, when my adversaries and enemies attack me, they stumble and fall.

27:3 Even when an army is deployed against me, I do not fear. Even when war is imminent, I remain confident.

27:4 I have asked the Lord for one thing – this is what I desire!

I want to live in the Lord’s house all the days of my life, so I can gaze at the splendor of the Lord and contemplate in his temple.

27:5 He will surely give me shelter in the day of danger; he will hide me in his home; he will place me on an inaccessible rocky summit.

27:6 Now I will triumph over my enemies who surround me!

I will offer sacrifices in his dwelling place and shout for joy!

I will sing praises to the Lord!

27:7 Hear me, O Lord, when I cry out!

Have mercy on me and answer me!

27:8 My heart tells me to pray to you, and I do pray to you, O Lord.

27:9 Do not reject me!

Do not push your servant away in anger!

You are my deliverer!

Do not forsake or abandon me, O God who vindicates me!

27:10 Even if my father and mother abandoned me, the Lord would take me in.

27:11 Teach me how you want me to live; lead me along a level path because of those who wait to ambush me!

27:12 Do not turn me over to my enemies, for false witnesses who want to destroy me testify against me.

27:13 Where would I be if I did not believe I would experience the Lord’s favor in the land of the living?

27:14 Rely on the Lord!

Be strong and confident!

Rely on the Lord!

31:1 For the music director; a psalm of David.

In you, O Lord, I have taken shelter!

Never let me be humiliated!

Vindicate me by rescuing me!

31:2 Listen to me!

Quickly deliver me!

Be my protector and refuge,

a stronghold where I can be safe!

31:3 For you are my high ridge and my stronghold;

for the sake of your own reputation you lead me and guide me.

31:4 You will free me from the net they hid for me,

for you are my place of refuge.

31:5 Into your hand I entrust my life;

you will rescue me, O Lord, the faithful God.

31:6 I hate those who serve worthless idols,

but I trust in the Lord.

31:7 I will be happy and rejoice in your faithfulness,

because you notice my pain

and you are aware of how distressed I am.

31:8 You do not deliver me over to the power of the enemy;

you enable me to stand in a wide open place.

31:9 Have mercy on me, for I am in distress!

My eyes grow dim from suffering.

I have lost my strength.

31:10 For my life nears its end in pain;

my years draw to a close as I groan.

My strength fails me because of my sin,

and my bones become brittle.

31:11 Because of all my enemies, people disdain me;

my neighbors are appalled by my suffering –

those who know me are horrified by my condition;

those who see me in the street run away from me.

31:12 I am forgotten, like a dead man no one thinks about;

I am regarded as worthless, like a broken jar.

31:13 For I hear what so many are saying,

the terrifying news that comes from every direction.

When they plot together against me,

they figure out how they can take my life.

31:14 But I trust in you, O Lord!

I declare, “You are my God!”

31:15 You determine my destiny!

Rescue me from the power of my enemies and those who chase me.

31:16 Smile on your servant!

Deliver me because of your faithfulness!

31:17 O Lord, do not let me be humiliated,

for I call out to you!

May evil men be humiliated!

May they go wailing to the grave!

31:18 May lying lips be silenced –

lips that speak defiantly against the innocent

with arrogance and contempt!

31:19 How great is your favor,

which you store up for your loyal followers!

In plain sight of everyone you bestow it on those who take shelter in you.

31:20 You hide them with you, where they are safe from the attacks of men;

you conceal them in a shelter, where they are safe from slanderous attacks.

31:21 The Lord deserves praise

for he demonstrated his amazing faithfulness to me when I was besieged by enemies.

31:22 I jumped to conclusions and said,

“I am cut off from your presence!”

But you heard my plea for mercy when I cried out to you for help.

31:23 Love the Lord, all you faithful followers of his!

The Lord protects those who have integrity,

but he pays back in full the one who acts arrogantly.

31:24 Be strong and confident,

all you who wait on the Lord!

34:1 Written by David, when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, causing the king to send him away.

I will praise the Lord at all times;

my mouth will continually praise him.

34:2 I will boast in the Lord;

let the oppressed hear and rejoice!

34:3 Magnify the Lord with me!

Let’s praise his name together!

34:4 I sought the Lord’s help and he answered me;

he delivered me from all my fears.

34:5 Those who look to him for help are happy;

their faces are not ashamed.

34:6 This oppressed man cried out and the Lord heard;

he saved him from all his troubles.

34:7 The Lord’s angel camps around

the Lord’s loyal followers and delivers them.

34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good!

How blessed is the one who takes shelter in him!

34:9 Remain loyal to the Lord, you chosen people of his,

for his loyal followers lack nothing!

34:10 Even young lions sometimes lack food and are hungry,

but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

34:11 Come children! Listen to me!

I will teach you what it means to fear the Lord.

34:12 Do you want to really live?

Would you love to live a long, happy life?

34:13 Then make sure you don’t speak evil words

or use deceptive speech!

34:14 Turn away from evil and do what is right!

Strive for peace and promote it!

34:15 The Lord pays attention to the godly

and hears their cry for help.

34:16 But the Lord opposes evildoers

and wipes out all memory of them from the earth.

34:17 The godly cry out and the Lord hears;

he saves them from all their troubles.

34:18 The Lord is near the brokenhearted;

he delivers those who are discouraged.

34:19 The godly face many dangers,

but the Lord saves them from each one of them.

34:20 He protects all his bones;

not one of them is broken.

34:21 Evil people self-destruct;

those who hate the godly are punished.

34:22 The Lord rescues his servants;

all who take shelter in him escape punishment.

52:1 For the music director; a well-written song by David. It was written when Doeg the Edomite went and informed Saul: “David has arrived at the home of Ahimelech.”

Why do you boast about your evil plans, O powerful man?

God’s loyal love protects me all day long!

52:2 Your tongue carries out your destructive plans; it is as effective as a sharp razor, O deceiver.

52:3 You love evil more than good, lies more than speaking the truth. (Selah)

52:4 You love to use all the words that destroy, and the tongue that deceives.

52:5 Yet God will make you a permanent heap of ruins. He will scoop you up and remove you from your home; he will uproot you from the land of the living. (Selah)

52:6 When the godly see this, they will be filled with awe, and will mock the evildoer, saying:

52:7 “Look, here is the man who would not make God his protector!

He trusted in his great wealth and was confident about his plans to destroy others.”

52:8 But I am like a flourishing olive tree in the house of God; I continually trust in God’s loyal love.

52:9 I will continually thank you when you execute judgment; I will rely on you, for your loyal followers know you are good.

56:1 For the music director; according to the yonath-elem-rechovim style; a prayer of David, written when the Philistines captured him in Gath.

Have mercy on me, O God, for men are attacking me!

All day long hostile enemies are tormenting me.

56:2 Those who anticipate my defeat attack me all day long. Indeed, many are fighting against me, O Exalted One.

56:3 When I am afraid, I trust in you.

56:4 In God – I boast in his promise – in God I trust, I am not afraid.

What can mere men do to me?

56:5 All day long they cause me trouble; they make a habit of plotting my demise.

56:6 They stalk and lurk; they watch my every step, as they prepare to take my life.

56:7 Because they are bent on violence, do not let them escape!

In your anger bring down the nations, O God!

56:8 You keep track of my misery.

Put my tears in your leather container!

Are they not recorded in your scroll?

56:9 My enemies will turn back when I cry out to you for help; I know that God is on my side.

56:10 In God – I boast in his promise – in the Lord – I boast in his promise –

56:11 in God I trust, I am not afraid.

What can mere men do to me?

56:12 I am obligated to fulfill the vows I made to you, O God; I will give you the thank-offerings you deserve,

56:13 when you deliver my life from death. You keep my feet from stumbling, so that I might serve God as I enjoy life.

120:1 A song of ascents.

In my distress I cried out to the Lord and he answered me.

120:2 I said, “O Lord, rescue me from those who lie with their lips and those who deceive with their tongue.

120:3 How will he severely punish you, you deceptive talker?

120:4 Here’s how! With the sharp arrows of warriors, with arrowheads forged over the hot coals.

120:5 How miserable I am!

For I have lived temporarily in Meshech; I have resided among the tents of Kedar.

120:6 For too long I have had to reside with those who hate peace.

120:7 I am committed to peace, but when I speak, they want to make war.

140:1 For the music director; a psalm of David.

O Lord, rescue me from wicked men!

Protect me from violent men,

140:2 who plan ways to harm me. All day long they stir up conflict.

140:3 Their tongues wound like a serpent; a viper’s venom is behind their lips. (Selah)

140:4 O Lord, shelter me from the power of the wicked!

Protect me from violent men, who plan to knock me over.

140:5 Proud men hide a snare for me; evil men spread a net by the path; they set traps for me. (Selah)

140:6 I say to the Lord, “You are my God.” O Lord, pay attention to my plea for mercy!

140:7 O sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle.

140:8 O Lord, do not let the wicked have their way!

Do not allow their plan to succeed when they attack! (Selah)

140:9 As for the heads of those who surround me – may the harm done by their lips overwhelm them!

140:10 May he rain down fiery coals upon them!

May he throw them into the fire!

From bottomless pits they will not escape.

140:11 A slanderer will not endure on the earth; calamity will hunt down a violent man and strike him down.

140:12 I know that the Lord defends the cause of the oppressed and vindicates the poor.

140:13 Certainly the godly will give thanks to your name; the morally upright will live in your presence.

141:1 A psalm of David.

O Lord, I cry out to you. Come quickly to me!

Pay attention to me when I cry out to you!

141:2 May you accept my prayer like incense, my uplifted hands like the evening offering!

141:3 O Lord, place a guard on my mouth!

Protect the opening of my lips!

141:4 Do not let me have evil desires, or participate in sinful activities with men who behave wickedly. I will not eat their delicacies.

141:5 May the godly strike me in love and correct me!

May my head not refuse choice oil!

Indeed, my prayer is a witness against their evil deeds.

141:6 They will be thrown down the side of a cliff by their judges. They will listen to my words, for they are pleasant.

141:7 As when one plows and breaks up the soil, so our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

141:8 Surely I am looking to you, O sovereign Lord. In you I take shelter.

Do not expose me to danger!

141:9 Protect me from the snare they have laid for me, and the traps the evildoers have set.

141:10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I escape.

142:1 A well-written song by David, when he was in the cave; a prayer.

To the Lord I cry out; to the Lord I plead for mercy.

142:2 I pour out my lament before him; I tell him about my troubles.

142:3 Even when my strength leaves me, you watch my footsteps. In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me.

142:4 Look to the right and see!

No one cares about me. I have nowhere to run; no one is concerned about my life.

142:5 I cry out to you, O Lord; I say, “You are my shelter, my security in the land of the living.”

142:6 Listen to my cry for help, for I am in serious trouble!

Rescue me from those who chase me, for they are stronger than I am.

142:7 Free me from prison, that I may give thanks to your name.

Because of me the godly will assemble, for you will vindicate me.

Prayer

Lord, You are not like us, You are God. Your justice and love, knowledge and wisdom are perfect. You hear our cries and intervene only in the perfect time and the perfect way. May I trust in You in all ways and at all times.

Scripture In Perspective

Psalm 7 – David considers the threat of Benjamin the Cush then concludes that the man would suffer for his actions.

Psalm 27 – David celebrates his certainty of the Lord’s deliverance.

Psalm 31 – David continues his celebration of confidence in the Lord.

Psalm 34 – David celebrates the Lord’s inspiration to trick Abimelech in order to escape.

Psalm 52 – David continues his celebration of escape from Abimelech and Doeg.

Psalm 56 – David recognizes the threat of the Philistines but chooses to trust the Lord to deliver him.

Psalms 120, 140, 141, 142 – David cries out for deliverance.

Interact With The Text

Consider

David knew he was God’s anointed, and he knew of the power of God, yet he often drifted back and forth from confident-trust to abject-fear.

Discuss

How can a man be the recipient, or at least an observer, of the Lord deliverance and power, yet still fear man?

Reflect

David always returned to confidence in God which suggests that his whining was when the Lord allowed him to express “the groanings of his heart”, in the flesh, while waiting for David to return to a more mature faith-based perspective.

Share

When have you been under attack from ‘evil men’ and either responded to them or chose to be silent and to only communicate with the Lord God? How have the different paths turned out?

Faith In Action

Pray

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a circumstance where you are under attack by ‘man’.

Act

Today I will choose not to respond in-kind to an ‘evil man’ who has or is attacking me, serving the enemy as his delegated-accuser, and will instead pray, read the Bible, and perhaps journal the experience and how the Lord God brings me through.

Be Specific ________________________________________________

Monday (1 Samuel 25-27, Psalms 17, 35, 54, 63, 1 Samuel 28-31)

The Death of Samuel

25:1 Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and mourned him. They buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David left and went down to the desert of Paran.

David Marries Abigail the Widow of Nabal

25:2 There was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. This man was very wealthy; he owned three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. At that time he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 25:3 The man’s name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was both wise and beautiful, but the man was harsh and his deeds were evil. He was a Calebite.

25:4 When David heard in the desert that Nabal was shearing his sheep, 25:5 he sent ten servants, saying to them, “Go up to Carmel to see Nabal and give him greetings in my name. 25:6 Then you will say to my brother, “Peace to you and your house! Peace to all that is yours! 25:7 Now I hear that they are shearing sheep for you. When your shepherds were with us, we neither insulted them nor harmed them the whole time they were in Carmel. 25:8 Ask your own servants; they can tell you! May my servants find favor in your sight, for we have come at the time of a holiday. Please provide us – your servants and your son David – with whatever you can spare.”

25:9 So David’s servants went and spoke all these words to Nabal in David’s name. Then they paused. 25:10 But Nabal responded to David’s servants, “Who is David, and who is this son of Jesse? This is a time when many servants are breaking away from their masters! 25:11 Should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have slaughtered for my shearers and give them to these men? I don’t even know where they came from!”

25:12 So David’s servants went on their way. When they had returned, they came and told David all these things. 25:13 Then David instructed his men, “Each of you strap on your sword!” So each one strapped on his sword, and David also strapped on his sword. About four hundred men followed David up, while two hundred stayed behind with the equipment.

25:14 But one of the servants told Nabal’s wife Abigail, “David sent messengers from the desert to greet our lord, but he screamed at them. 25:15 These men were very good to us. They did not insult us, nor did we sustain any loss during the entire time we were together in the field. 25:16 Both night and day they were a protective wall for us the entire time we were with them, while we were tending our flocks. 25:17 Now be aware of this, and see what you can do. For disaster has been planned for our lord and his entire household. He is such a wicked person that no one tells him anything!”

25:18 So Abigail quickly took two hundred loaves of bread, two containers of wine, five prepared sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred bunches of raisins, and two hundred lumps of pressed figs. She loaded them on donkeys 25:19 and said to her servants, “Go on ahead of me. I will come after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal.

25:20 Riding on her donkey, she went down under cover of the mountain. David and his men were coming down to meet her, and she encountered them. 25:21 Now David had been thinking, “In vain I guarded everything that belonged to this man in the desert. I didn’t take anything from him. But he has repaid my good with evil. 25:22 God will severely punish David, if I leave alive until morning even one male from all those who belong to him!”

25:23 When Abigail saw David, she got down quickly from the donkey, threw herself down before David, and bowed to the ground. 25:24 Falling at his feet, she said, “My lord, I accept all the guilt! But please let your female servant speak with my lord! Please listen to the words of your servant! 25:25 My lord should not pay attention to this wicked man Nabal. He simply lives up to his name! His name means ‘fool,’ and he is indeed foolish! But I, your servant, did not see the servants my lord sent.

25:26 “Now, my lord, as surely as the Lord lives and as surely as you live, it is the Lord who has kept you from shedding blood and taking matters into your own hands. Now may your enemies and those who seek to harm my lord be like Nabal. 25:27 Now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the servants who follow my lord. 25:28 Please forgive the sin of your servant, for the Lord will certainly establish the house of my lord, because my lord fights the battles of the Lord. May no evil be found in you all your days! 25:29 When someone sets out to chase you and to take your life, the life of my lord will be wrapped securely in the bag of the living by the Lord your God. But he will sling away the lives of your enemies from the sling’s pocket! 25:30 The Lord will do for my lord everything that he promised you, and he will make you a leader over Israel. 25:31 Your conscience will not be overwhelmed with guilt for having poured out innocent blood and for having taken matters into your own hands. When the Lord has granted my lord success, please remember your servant.”

25:32 Then David said to Abigail, “Praised be the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you this day to meet me! 25:33 Praised be your good judgment! May you yourself be rewarded for having prevented me this day from shedding blood and taking matters into my own hands! 25:34 Otherwise, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives – he who has prevented me from harming you – if you had not come so quickly to meet me, by morning’s light not even one male belonging to Nabal would have remained alive!” 25:35 Then David took from her hand what she had brought to him. He said to her, “Go back to your home in peace. Be assured that I have listened to you and responded favorably.”

25:36 When Abigail went back to Nabal, he was holding a banquet in his house like that of the king. Nabal was having a good time and was very intoxicated. She told him absolutely nothing until morning’s light. 25:37 In the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him about these matters. He had a stroke and was paralyzed. 25:38 After about ten days the Lord struck Nabal down and he died.

25:39 When David heard that Nabal had died, he said, “Praised be the Lord who has vindicated me and avenged the insult that I suffered from Nabal! The Lord has kept his servant from doing evil, and he has repaid Nabal for his evil deeds.” Then David sent word to Abigail and asked her to become his wife.

25:40 So the servants of David went to Abigail at Carmel and said to her, “David has sent us to you to bring you back to be his wife.” 25:41 She arose, bowed her face toward the ground, and said, “Your female servant, like a lowly servant, will wash the feet of the servants of my lord.” 25:42 Then Abigail quickly went and mounted her donkey, with five of her female servants accompanying her. She followed David’s messengers and became his wife.

25:43 David had also married Ahinoam from Jezreel; the two of them became his wives. 25:44 (Now Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Paltiel son of Laish, who was from Gallim.)

David Spares Saul’s Life Again

26:1 The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Isn’t David hiding on the hill of Hakilah near Jeshimon?” 26:2 So Saul arose and went down to the desert of Ziph, accompanied by three thousand select men of Israel, to look for David in the desert of Ziph. 26:3 Saul camped by the road on the hill of Hakilah near Jeshimon, but David was staying in the desert. When he realized that Saul had come to the desert to find him, 26:4 David sent scouts and verified that Saul had indeed arrived.

26:5 So David set out and went to the place where Saul was camped. David saw the place where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the general in command of his army, were sleeping. Now Saul was lying in the entrenchment, and the army was camped all around him. 26:6 David said to Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” Abishai replied, “I will go down with you.”

26:7 So David and Abishai approached the army at night and found Saul lying asleep in the entrenchment with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. Abner and the army were lying all around him. 26:8 Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me drive the spear right through him into the ground with one swift jab! A second jab won’t be necessary!”

26:9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t kill him! Who can extend his hand against the Lord’s chosen one and remain guiltless?” 26:10 David went on to say, “As the Lord lives, the Lord himself will strike him down. Either his day will come and he will die, or he will go down into battle and be swept away. 26:11 But may the Lord prevent me from extending my hand against the Lord’s chosen one! Now take the spear by Saul’s head and the jug of water, and let’s get out of here!” 26:12 So David took the spear and the jug of water by Saul’s head, and they got out of there. No one saw them or was aware of their presence or woke up. All of them were asleep, for the Lord had caused a deep sleep to fall on them.

26:13 Then David crossed to the other side and stood on the top of the hill some distance away; there was a considerable distance between them. 26:14 David called to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Won’t you answer, Abner?” Abner replied, “Who are you, that you have called to the king?” 26:15 David said to Abner, “Aren’t you a man? After all, who is like you in Israel? Why then haven’t you protected your lord the king? One of the soldiers came to kill your lord the king. 26:16 This failure on your part isn’t good! As surely as the Lord lives, you people who have not protected your lord, the Lord’s chosen one, are as good as dead! Now look where the king’s spear and the jug of water that was by his head are!”

26:17 When Saul recognized David’s voice, he said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” David replied, “Yes, it’s my voice, my lord the king.” 26:18 He went on to say, “Why is my lord chasing his servant? What have I done? What wrong have I done? 26:19 So let my lord the king now listen to the words of his servant. If the Lord has incited you against me, may he take delight in an offering. But if men have instigated this, may they be cursed before the Lord! For they have driven me away this day from being united with the Lord’s inheritance, saying, ‘Go on, serve other gods!’ 26:20 Now don’t let my blood fall to the ground away from the Lord’s presence, for the king of Israel has gone out to look for a flea the way one looks for a partridge in the hill country.”

26:21 Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, my son David. I won’t harm you, for you treated my life with value this day. I have behaved foolishly and have made a very terrible mistake!” 26:22 David replied, “Here is the king’s spear! Let one of your servants cross over and get it. 26:23 The Lord rewards each man for his integrity and loyalty. Even though today the Lord delivered you into my hand, I was not willing to extend my hand against the Lord’s chosen one. 26:24 In the same way that I valued your life this day, may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all danger.” 26:25 Saul replied to David, “May you be rewarded, my son David! You will without question be successful!” So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

David Aligns Himself with the Philistines

27:1 David thought to himself, “One of these days I’m going to be swept away by the hand of Saul! There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of searching for me through all the territory of Israel and I will escape from his hand.”

27:2 So David left and crossed over to King Achish son of Maoch of Gath accompanied by his six hundred men. 27:3 David settled with Achish in Gath, along with his men and their families. David had with him his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail the Carmelite, Nabal’s widow. 27:4 When Saul learned that David had fled to Gath, he did not mount a new search for him.

27:5 David said to Achish, “If I have found favor with you, let me be given a place in one of the country towns so that I can live there. Why should your servant settle in the royal city with you?” 27:6 So Achish gave him Ziklag on that day. (For that reason Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah until this very day.) 27:7 The length of time that David lived in the Philistine countryside was a year and four months.

27:8 Then David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. (They had been living in that land for a long time, from the approach to Shur as far as the land of Egypt.) 27:9 When David would attack a district, he would leave neither man nor woman alive. He would take sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing and would then go back to Achish. 27:10 When Achish would ask, “Where did you raid today?” David would say, “The Negev of Judah” or “The Negev of Jeharmeel” or “The Negev of the Kenites.” 27:11 Neither man nor woman would David leave alive so as to bring them back to Gath. He was thinking, “This way they can’t tell on us, saying, ‘This is what David did.’” Such was his practice the entire time that he lived in the country of the Philistines. 27:12 So Achish trusted David, thinking to himself, “He is really hated among his own people in Israel! From now on he will be my servant.”

63:6 whenever I remember you on my bed, and think about you during the nighttime hours.

63:7 For you are my deliverer; under your wings I rejoice.

63:8 My soul pursues you; your right hand upholds me.

63:9 Enemies seek to destroy my life, but they will descend into the depths of the earth.

63:10 Each one will be handed over to the sword; their corpses will be eaten by jackals.

63:11 But the king will rejoice in God; everyone who takes oaths in his name will boast, for the mouths of those who speak lies will be shut up.

1 Samuel 28 - 31

The Witch of Endor

28:1 In those days the Philistines gathered their troops for war in order to fight Israel. Achish said to David, “You should fully understand that you and your men must go with me into the battle.” 28:2 David replied to Achish, “That being the case, you will come to know what your servant can do!” Achish said to David, “Then I will make you my bodyguard from now on.”

28:3 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented over him and had buried him in Ramah, his hometown. In the meantime Saul had removed the mediums and magicians from the land. 28:4 The Philistines assembled; they came and camped at Shunem. Saul mustered all Israel and camped at Gilboa. 28:5 When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was absolutely terrified. 28:6 So Saul inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him – not by dreams nor by Urim nor by the prophets. 28:7 So Saul instructed his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so that I may go to her and inquire of her.” His servants replied to him, “There is a woman who is a medium in Endor.”

28:8 So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothing and left, accompanied by two of his men. They came to the woman at night and said, “Use your ritual pit to conjure up for me the one I tell you.”

28:9 But the woman said to him, “Look, you are aware of what Saul has done; he has removed the mediums and magicians from the land! Why are you trapping me so you can put me to death?” 28:10 But Saul swore an oath to her by the Lord, “As surely as the Lord lives, you will not incur guilt in this matter!” 28:11 The woman replied, “Who is it that I should bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up for me Samuel.”

28:12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out loudly. The woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!” 28:13 The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid! What have you seen?” The woman replied to Saul, “I have seen one like a god coming up from the ground!” 28:14 He said to her, “What about his appearance?” She said, “An old man is coming up! He is wrapped in a robe!”

Then Saul realized it was Samuel, and he bowed his face toward the ground and kneeled down. 28:15 Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul replied, “I am terribly troubled! The Philistines are fighting against me and God has turned away from me. He does not answer me – not by the prophets nor by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what I should do.”

28:16 Samuel said, “Why are you asking me, now that the Lord has turned away from you and has become your enemy? 28:17 The Lord has done exactly as I prophesied! The Lord has torn the kingdom from your hand and has given it to your neighbor David! 28:18 Since you did not obey the Lord and did not carry out his fierce anger against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this thing to you today. 28:19 The Lord will hand you and Israel over to the Philistines! Tomorrow both you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also hand the army of Israel over to the Philistines!”

28:20 Saul quickly fell full length on the ground and was very afraid because of Samuel’s words. He was completely drained of energy, not having eaten anything all that day and night. 28:21 When the woman came to Saul and saw how terrified he was, she said to him, “Your servant has done what you asked. I took my life into my own hands and did what you told me. 28:22 Now it’s your turn to listen to your servant! Let me set before you a bit of bread so that you can eat. When you regain your strength, you can go on your way.”

28:23 But he refused, saying, “I won’t eat!” Both his servants and the woman urged him to eat, so he gave in. He got up from the ground and sat down on the bed. 28:24 Now the woman had a well-fed calf at her home that she quickly slaughtered. Taking some flour, she kneaded bread and baked it without leaven. 28:25 She brought it to Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they arose and left that same night.

David Is Rejected by the Philistine Leaders

29:1 The Philistines assembled all their troops at Aphek, while Israel camped at the spring that is in Jezreel. 29:2 When the leaders of the Philistines were passing in review at the head of their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were passing in review in the rear with Achish.

29:3 The leaders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish said to the leaders of the Philistines, “Isn’t this David, the servant of King Saul of Israel, who has been with me for quite some time? I have found no fault with him from the day of his defection until the present time!”

29:4 But the leaders of the Philistines became angry with him and said to him, “Send the man back! Let him return to the place that you assigned him! Don’t let him go down with us into the battle, for he might become our adversary in the battle. What better way to please his lord than with the heads of these men? 29:5 Isn’t this David, of whom they sang as they danced,

‘Saul has struck down his thousands,

but David his tens of thousands’?”

29:6 So Achish summoned David and said to him, “As surely as the Lord lives, you are an honest man, and I am glad to have you serving with me in the army. I have found no fault with you from the day that you first came to me until the present time. But in the opinion of the leaders, you are not reliable. 29:7 So turn and leave in peace. You must not do anything that the leaders of the Philistines consider improper!”

29:8 But David said to Achish, “What have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day that I first came into your presence until the present time, that I shouldn’t go and fight the enemies of my lord the king?” 29:9 Achish replied to David, “I am convinced that you are as reliable as the angel of God! However, the leaders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go up with us in the battle.’ 29:10 So get up early in the morning along with the servants of your lord who have come with you. When you get up early in the morning, as soon as it is light enough to see, leave.”

29:11 So David and his men got up early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines, but the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

David Defeats the Amalekites

30:1 On the third day David and his men came to Ziklag. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They attacked Ziklag and burned it. 30:2 They took captive the women who were in it, from the youngest to the oldest, but they did not kill anyone. They simply carried them off and went on their way.

30:3 When David and his men came to the city, they found it burned. Their wives, sons, and daughters had been taken captive. 30:4 Then David and the men who were with him wept loudly until they could weep no more. 30:5 David’s two wives had been taken captive – Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail the Carmelite, Nabal’s widow. 30:6 David was very upset, for the men were thinking of stoning him; each man grieved bitterly over his sons and daughters. But David drew strength from the Lord his God.

30:7 Then David said to the priest Abiathar son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 30:8 David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Should I pursue this raiding band? Will I overtake them?” He said to him, “Pursue, for you will certainly overtake them and carry out a rescue!”

30:9 So David went, accompanied by his six hundred men. When he came to the Wadi Besor, those who were in the rear stayed there. 30:10 David and four hundred men continued the pursuit, but two hundred men who were too exhausted to cross the Wadi Besor stayed there.

30:11 Then they found an Egyptian in the field and brought him to David. They gave him bread to eat and water to drink. 30:12 They gave him a slice of pressed figs and two bunches of raisins to eat. This greatly refreshed him, for he had not eaten food or drunk water for three days and three nights. 30:13 David said to him, “To whom do you belong, and where are you from?” The young man said, “I am an Egyptian, the servant of an Amalekite man. My master abandoned me when I was ill for three days. 30:14 We conducted a raid on the Negev of the Kerethites, on the area of Judah, and on the Negev of Caleb. We burned Ziklag.” 30:15 David said to him, “Can you take us down to this raiding party?” He said, “Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or hand me over to my master, and I will take you down to this raiding party.”

30:16 So he took David down, and they found them spread out over the land. They were eating and drinking and enjoying themselves because of all the loot they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. 30:17 But David struck them down from twilight until the following evening. None of them escaped, with the exception of four hundred young men who got away on camels. 30:18 David retrieved everything the Amalekites had taken; he also rescued his two wives. 30:19 There was nothing missing, whether small or great. He retrieved sons and daughters, the plunder, and everything else they had taken. David brought everything back. 30:20 David took all the flocks and herds and drove them in front of the rest of the animals. People were saying, “This is David’s plunder!”

30:21 Then David approached the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to go with him, those whom they had left at the Wadi Besor. They went out to meet David and the people who were with him. When David approached the people, he asked how they were doing. 30:22 But all the evil and worthless men among those who had gone with David said, “Since they didn’t go with us, we won’t give them any of the loot we retrieved! They may take only their wives and children. Let them lead them away and be gone!”

30:23 But David said, “No! You shouldn’t do this, my brothers. Look at what the Lord has given us! He has protected us and has delivered into our hands the raiding party that came against us. 30:24 Who will listen to you in this matter? The portion of the one who went down into the battle will be the same as the portion of the one who remained with the equipment! Let their portions be the same!”

30:25 From that time onward it was a binding ordinance for Israel, right up to the present time.

30:26 When David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah who were his friends, saying, “Here’s a gift for you from the looting of the Lord’s enemies!” 30:27 The gift was for those in the following locations: for those in Bethel, Ramoth Negev, and Jattir; 30:28 for those in Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa, 30:29 and Racal; for those in the cities of the Jerahmeelites and Kenites; 30:30 for those in Hormah, Bor Ashan, Athach, 30:31 and Hebron; and for those in whatever other places David and his men had traveled.

The Death of Saul

31:1 Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel. The men of Israel fled from the Philistines and many of them fell dead on Mount Gilboa. 31:2 The Philistines stayed right on the heels of Saul and his sons. They struck down Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua. 31:3 Saul himself was in the thick of the battle; the archers spotted him and wounded him severely.

31:4 Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and stab me with it! Otherwise these uncircumcised people will come, stab me, and torture me.” But his armor bearer refused to do it, because he was very afraid. So Saul took his sword and fell on it. 31:5 When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his own sword and died with him. 31:6 So Saul, his three sons, his armor bearer, and all his men died together that day.

31:7 When the men of Israel who were in the valley and across the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned the cities and fled. The Philistines came and occupied them.

31:8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip loot from the corpses, they discovered Saul and his three sons lying dead on Mount Gilboa. 31:9 They cut off Saul’s head and stripped him of his armor. They sent messengers to announce the news in the temple of their idols and among their people throughout the surrounding land of the Philistines. 31:10 They placed Saul’s armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and hung his corpse on the city wall of Beth Shan.

31:11 When the residents of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 31:12 all their warriors set out and traveled throughout the night. They took Saul’s corpse and the corpses of his sons from the city wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them. 31:13 They took the bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh; then they fasted for seven days.

Prayer

Lord, vengeance is Yours, not ours. May I be found obedient enough to resist the trap of the enemy that is rage-driven revenge and instead leave that to You. Lord, You empower us to choose to give to You what is Yours, including our obedience and Your sole right to vengeance. May I have the wisdom to refrain from usurping you in my life, especially when I am angry, fearful, or hurt. Lord, You provide a safe haven for those whom You have called to serve You, and You may even use the foolishness of unbelievers as Your tools. May I trust You to always meet my real needs. Lord, You have warned us against witchcraft in any and all forms. May I be faithful in living and teaching Your truth which protects us against the deceptions of the evil one via cleverly promoted and popularized versions of witchcraft. Lord, when those who are obediently Yours are harmed, You restore them beyond what they first possessed. May I be faithful that You might keep and increase me despite my enemies so that I may have more resources with which to serve You. Lord, sometimes You express Your permissive will, allowing humankind to make choices and deal with the consequences, and sometimes You declare a certain path and it is always done. May I pray and study, gaining knowledge and understanding so that Your Holy Spirit will grant me the wisdom to recognize the difference.

Scripture In Perspective

1 Samuel 25-27 -

Samuel died and was buried and mourned.

David traveled to the desert of Paran near Carmel. There he and his men provided protection for some shepherds whose flocks belong to a man named Nabal.

When the time of an OT holiday had come when those who had much were to give to those who had little David sent messengers to Nabal requesting some resources for his men.

Nabal yelled at them and refused to honor their request despite the testimony of his own people that David and his men had respected their property and provided protection without any prior compensation.

David became angry at the news and set out to kill Nabal and all of his men for the disrespect both for his men and for the requirements of the holiday.

Nabal’s wife, more noble and wise than he, heard of David’s intentions and intercepted him. She apologized for her husbands foolishness and offered a large amount of food – without Nabal’s knowledge. She stated that the Lord God had sent her to keep David from taking upon himself the blood of a fool – and that the Lord God would deal with Nabal.

Later, Nabal was drunk and she told him what had happened, and had a stroke and 10 days later he died. David married his widow, making her his second wife-in-exile. Michal had been given to another man by Saul.

Once again the foolish Saul marched 3,000 men out to attack David. David heard of his coming and had his men locate his camp.

David took one volunteer and snuck into Saul’s camp at night – the Lord God had caused all of the men to sleep unusually deeply. While they could have killed Saul with his own spear, David again decided to let the Lord God deal with him, so they instead took his spear and his water container and left.

David then called out to Abner, Saul’s closest General, to taunt him for not protecting Saul. When Saul heard David’s voice he called to him. David again explained that he could have killed Saul but that he felt that would be wrong – because Saul was the Lord God’s anointed.

David challenged Saul to justify his effort to kill him, and Saul confessed once-again that he was wrong in doing so and that David would be blessed in all that he did, so Saul returned home and David to his stronghold.

The Philistines were the mortal enemies of Israel and had they been faithful when they took the Promised Land the tribes with whom they had striven for generations would have been obliterated.

David tired of being chased in Israel by Saul so he migrated to Philistine territory for a while with the permission of King Achish son of Maoch of Gath. They knew that he was at-odds with Saul, and that David had re-married outside of the royal family, therefore they trusted him.

David took advantage of their trust and from the small city they gave to him ran raiding parties against Philistine villages, killing everyone to cover his tracks, and bring back the spoils as if they came from battles with supporters of Saul.

Psalms 17, 35, 54, 63 – David presented imprecatory prayers to the Lord, pleading with him to obliterate his enemies.

1 Samuel 28-31 - The Philistines gathered to make full-scale war against Israel. Saul was terrified at the sight of them and tried to consult the Lord God but “... the Lord did not answer him – not by dreams nor by Urim nor by the prophets” – Saul’s prior rebellion had created a rift in his relationship with God.

The term “Urim” is often paired with the word “Thummin” and refer to stones used in a loosely described means to discern God’s will via lot; the stones are rolled and how they come up provides a simple answer or non-answer. There are multiple references to them in the OT.

Saul, desperate for some insight then calls for his advisors to locate a witch, despite his edit that they be driven out of Israel following the death of Samuel. The text provides no explanation as to why Saul would take such an action but one may speculate that it may have been an act of respect toward the deceased Samuel.

Saul disguised himself and asked a suspicious and fearful witch to conjure-up Samuel. The witch was terrified when she saw a vision of Samuel and then realized that the man was Saul – but he reassured her that she was safe.

There are several difficult questions raised in this text; Can a witch really raise the spirit of a dead person and cause them to appear as a vision and communicate? If so, what of the Biblical teaching that none may communicate with the dead, and that when one sees a being claiming to be a dead person it is a deceiving demon? If it was not Samuel what/who was it? The vision claimed to be Samuel and did give a correct rendering of Samuel’s past prophesy and of the events to come. What does this mean to those who assert that the dead in Christ are immediately in Heaven? Does it mean that in linear time they are not, they must await the Great Judgment, but in the timeless reality of the Lord God (time itself was created by God for us, He is not controlled or limited by it) they are?

It is not the purpose of these survey-type studies to fully address and resolve such matters but it is important that we be aware of them and trust the Lord God to reveal to us what we know when we truly need to know – and to be content with that.

As the Philistines gathered to do war with Saul they decided to not allow David to join them. He protested but even though his host, King Achish, thought him faithful (since he did not know of David’s raiding parties) the other Philistine leaders did not trust him.

While they were away from their temporary home in Philistine country the Amalekites raided, burning everything and taking the people, women and children and elderly. David’s band of men were angry and upset but he consulted the Lord God Who said to go after them.

They caught up with the Amalekites and destroyed all but 400 young fighters who escaped on camels. They not only recovered everything that was taken from them but much more plunder that the Amalekites had gathered.

Two hundred of David’s six hundred had been too exhausted to finish the chase but David insisted that the plunder be evenly divided. He also have some of the plunder to those who were friendly to him in Israel.

Saul went to war with the Philistines without the blessing and protection of the Lord God, indeed God had prophesied through a vision of Samuel that he and his sons would be killed and his army fall to the enemy.

As prophesied Saul’s sons were killed, as was Saul, and Saul was decapitated. His body (head and torso) and that of his sons were hung on the city wall of Beth Shan.

Israelites in Jabesh Gilead, apparently not involved in the battle, heard what had been done with the bodies and traveled by night to recover and burn the bodies, then they fasted for seven days.

Interact With The Text

Consider

David could be very impetuous and did not always consult the Lord God before he acted, his decision to kill Nabal displaced God’s role as the exacter of vengeance; Nabal’s wife led David to turn away from trying to control Nabal’s fate and to let God do it instead. David had every right to kill Saul and the Lord God gave him the opportunity. David had to make a choice, one that was designed to test and to build his character. Since the Israelites were in a continuous state of war with the Philistines David was under no obligation to assist them in any way, and he was free to deceive and to destroy, as an act of war. Saul continued to make impulsive and wrong decisions. First he banned witches then, when in need – because he was estranged from the Lord - he violated his own rule and consulted one. David had done such a good job of covering his tracks from secret raids that King Achish was willing to vouch for him to his fellow Philistines. Saul was doomed from the moment his final battle began because the Lord God had decided that his time as king had ended.

Discuss

If not by the prompting of the Lord God why would Nabal’s wife have cared if David killed him and his men, surely their household was somewhat wealthy - and given the description that Abigail was beautiful and wise she would have had little difficulty finding another husband (probably not as foolish and harsh as Nabal) and workers? David did not take Saul up on his request to come to where he was, could it have been because David knew that because of the influence of “evil spirits” that Saul’s temperament was too erratic to trust? Isn’t it encouraging that while the Lord God allowed the temporary homes of David and his men to be destroyed and their families and possessions taken He prevented the Amalekites from killing any of them and then blessed David by returning everything and a lot more?

Reflect

Saul continued his rebellious abuse of power, parting those whom the Lord God had brought together in marriage (David and Michal), and giving Michal to another man. The Philistine leaders understood the depth of tribal loyalty among the Israelites and therefore distrusted David. The Lord God allowed the pagan Philistines, bent only upon destruction, to serve as His instrument to remove Saul from leadership.

Share

When have you been rescued from an impetuous decision by a more mature person? When have you had to deal with someone in authority who frequently changed directions and sometimes in very contradictory ways? When have you suffered an unexpected loss but had it restored and even more? When have you experienced or observed the Lord God working His will in the lives of His people through the instrument of non-believers?

Faith In Action

Pray

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you need to either turn-away or be His instrument in leading another to turn-away from a poor decision and to reveal to you a place where you may need to turn away from trying to “get even” for some perceived slight or wrongful treatment.

Act

Today I will confess and accept the Lord God’s forgiveness for my wrong choice(s). I will repent, turn-away, and walk the more difficult path – but one in agreement with the Lord’s teaching and not that of the world. The bad choice may be self-medicating with adrenaline-risks, alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, spending, or violence as a way to cope with difficulties, or it may be selling-out to the various forms of witchcraft that have invaded modern Western society at a level not experienced since the Dark Ages. I will trust the Lord God in prayer with whatever loss I have suffered. I will wait on Him to discover how He will make something good from the bad. It may be a testimony during the sadness of a death, maturity gained in a troubled period in relationships, a new (and perhaps different) start where prior employment or other activity has ended, or an actual restoration and improvement in possessions. In everything I will give God all of the glory.

Be Specific _____________________________________________

Tuesday (Psalms 18, 121, 123-125, 128-130, 2 Samuel 1-4)

18:1 For the music director; by the Lord’s servant David, who sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord rescued him from the power of all his enemies, including Saul.

He said: “I love you, Lord, my source of strength!

18:2 The Lord is my high ridge, my stronghold, my deliverer. My God is my rocky summit where I take shelter, my shield, the horn that saves me, and my refuge.

18:3 I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I was delivered from my enemies.

18:4 The waves of death engulfed me, the currents of chaos overwhelmed me.

18:5 The ropes of Sheol tightened around me, the snares of death trapped me.

18:6 In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried out to my God. From his heavenly temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help.

18:7 The earth heaved and shook; the roots of the mountains trembled; they heaved because he was angry.

18:8 Smoke ascended from his nose; fire devoured as it came from his mouth; he hurled down fiery coals.

18:9 He made the sky sink as he descended; a thick cloud was under his feet.

18:10 He mounted a winged angel and flew; he glided on the wings of the wind.

18:11 He shrouded himself in darkness, in thick rain clouds.

18:12 From the brightness in front of him came hail and fiery coals.

18:13 The Lord thundered in the sky; the sovereign One shouted.

18:14 He shot his arrows and scattered them, many lightning bolts and routed them.

18:15 The depths of the sea were exposed; the inner regions of the world were uncovered by your battle cry, Lord, by the powerful breath from your nose.

18:16 He reached down from above and took hold of me; he pulled me from the surging water.

18:17 He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hate me, for they were too strong for me.

18:18 They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the Lord helped me.

18:19 He brought me out into a wide open place; he delivered me because he was pleased with me.

18:48 He delivers me from my enemies; you snatch me away from those who attack me; you rescue me from violent men.

18:49 So I will give you thanks before the nations, O Lord!

I will sing praises to you!

18:50 He gives his chosen king magnificent victories; he is faithful to his chosen ruler, to David and his descendants forever.”

121:1 A song of ascents.

I look up toward the hills.

From where does my help come?

121:2 My help comes from the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth!

121:3 May he not allow your foot to slip!

May your protector not sleep!

121:4 Look! Israel’s protector does not sleep or slumber!

121:5 The Lord is your protector; the Lord is the shade at your right hand.

121:6 The sun will not harm you by day, or the moon by night.

121:7 The Lord will protect you from all harm; he will protect your life.

121:8 The Lord will protect you in all you do, now and forevermore.

123:1 A song of ascents.

I look up toward you, the one enthroned in heaven.

123:2 Look, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female servant look to the hand of her mistress, so my eyes will look to the Lord, our God, until he shows us favor.

123:3 Show us favor, O Lord, show us favor!

For we have had our fill of humiliation, and then some.

123:4 We have had our fill of the taunts of the self-assured, of the contempt of the proud.

124:1 A song of ascents, by David.

“If the Lord had not been on our side” – let Israel say this! –

124:2 if the Lord had not been on our side, when men attacked us,

124:3 they would have swallowed us alive, when their anger raged against us.

124:4 The water would have overpowered us; the current would have overwhelmed us.

124:5 The raging water would have overwhelmed us.

124:6 The Lord deserves praise, for he did not hand us over as prey to their teeth.

124:7 We escaped with our lives, like a bird from a hunter’s snare. The snare broke, and we escaped.

124:8 Our deliverer is the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth.

125:1 A song of ascents.

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion; it cannot be upended and will endure forever.

125:2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, now and forevermore.

125:3 Indeed, the scepter of a wicked king will not settle upon the allotted land of the godly. Otherwise the godly might do what is wrong.

125:4 Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, to the morally upright!

125:5 As for those who are bent on traveling a sinful path, may the Lord remove them, along with those who behave wickedly!

May Israel experience peace!

128:1 A song of ascents.

How blessed is every one of the Lord’s loyal followers, each one who keeps his commands!

128:2 You will eat what you worked so hard to grow. You will be blessed and secure.

128:3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine in the inner rooms of your house; your children will be like olive branches, as they sit all around your table.

128:4 Yes indeed, the man who fears the Lord will be blessed in this way.

128:5 May the Lord bless you from Zion, that you might see Jerusalem prosper all the days of your life,

128:6 and that you might see your grandchildren.

May Israel experience peace!

129:1 A song of ascents.

“Since my youth they have often attacked me,” let Israel say.

129:2 “Since my youth they have often attacked me, but they have not defeated me.

129:3 The plowers plowed my back; they made their furrows long.

129:4 The Lord is just; he cut the ropes of the wicked.”

129:5 May all who hate Zion be humiliated and turned back!

129:6 May they be like the grass on the rooftops which withers before one can even pull it up,

129:7 which cannot fill the reaper’s hand, or the lap of the one who gathers the grain!

129:8 Those who pass by will not say, “May you experience the Lord’s blessing!

We pronounce a blessing on you in the name of the Lord.”

130:1 A song of ascents.

From the deep water I cry out to you, O Lord.

130:2 O Lord, listen to me!

Pay attention to my plea for mercy!

130:3 If you, O Lord, were to keep track of sins, O Lord, who could stand before you?

130:4 But you are willing to forgive, so that you might be honored.

130:5 I rely on the Lord, I rely on him with my whole being; I wait for his assuring word.

130:6 I yearn for the Lord, more than watchmen do for the morning, yes, more than watchmen do for the morning.

130:7 O Israel, hope in the Lord, for the Lord exhibits loyal love, and is more than willing to deliver.

130:8 He will deliver Israel from all the consequences of their sins.

David Learns of the Deaths of Saul and Jonathan

1:1 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, he stayed at Ziklag for two days. 1:2 On the third day a man arrived from the camp of Saul with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. When he approached David, the man threw himself to the ground.

1:3 David asked him, “Where are you coming from?” He replied, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” 1:4 David inquired, “How were things going? Tell me!” He replied, “The people fled from the battle and many of them fell dead. Even Saul and his son Jonathan are dead!” 1:5 David said to the young man who was telling him this, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” 1:6 The young man who was telling him this said, “I just happened to be on Mount Gilboa and came across Saul leaning on his spear for support. The chariots and leaders of the horsemen were in hot pursuit of him. 1:7 When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me. I answered, ‘Here I am!’ 1:8 He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ I told him, ‘I’m an Amalekite.’ 1:9 He said to me, ‘Stand over me and finish me off! I’m very dizzy, even though I’m still alive.’ 1:10 So I stood over him and put him to death, since I knew that he couldn’t live in such a condition. Then I took the crown which was on his head and the bracelet which was on his arm. I have brought them here to my lord.”

1:11 David then grabbed his own clothes and tore them, as did all the men who were with him. 1:12 They lamented and wept and fasted until evening because Saul, his son Jonathan, the Lord’s people, and the house of Israel had fallen by the sword.

1:13 David said to the young man who told this to him, “Where are you from?” He replied, “I am an Amalekite, the son of a resident foreigner.” 1:14 David replied to him, “How is it that you were not afraid to reach out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” 1:15 Then David called one of the soldiers and said, “Come here and strike him down!” So he struck him down, and he died. 1:16 David said to him, “Your blood be on your own head! Your own mouth has testified against you, saying ‘I have put the Lord’s anointed to death.’”

David’s Tribute to Saul and Jonathan

1:17 Then David chanted this lament over Saul and his son Jonathan. 1:18 (He gave instructions that the people of Judah should be taught “The Bow.” Indeed, it is written down in the Book of Yashar.)

1:19 The beauty of Israel lies slain on your high places!

How the mighty have fallen!

1:20 Don’t report it in Gath,

don’t spread the news in the streets of Ashkelon,

or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,

the daughters of the uncircumcised will celebrate!

1:21 O mountains of Gilboa,

may there be no dew or rain on you, nor fields of grain offerings!

For it was there that the shield of warriors was defiled;

the shield of Saul lies neglected without oil.

1:22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of warriors,

the bow of Jonathan was not turned away.

The sword of Saul never returned empty.

1:23 Saul and Jonathan were greatly loved during their lives,

and not even in their deaths were they separated.

They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.

1:24 O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,

who clothed you in scarlet as well as jewelry,

who put gold jewelry on your clothes.

1:25 How the warriors have fallen

in the midst of battle!

Jonathan lies slain on your high places!

1:26 I grieve over you, my brother Jonathan!

You were very dear to me.

Your love was more special to me than the love of women.

1:27 How the warriors have fallen!

The weapons of war are destroyed!

David is Anointed King

2:1 Afterward David inquired of the Lord, “Should I go up to one of the cities of Judah?” The Lord told him, “Go up.” David asked, “Where should I go?” The Lord replied, “To Hebron.” 2:2 So David went up, along with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail, formerly the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 2:3 David also brought along the men who were with him, each with his family. They settled in the cities of Hebron. 2:4 The men of Judah came and there they anointed David as king over the people of Judah.

David was told, “The people of Jabesh Gilead are the ones who buried Saul.” 2:5 So David sent messengers to the people of Jabesh Gilead and told them, “May you be blessed by the Lord because you have shown this kindness to your lord Saul by burying him. 2:6 Now may the Lord show you true kindness! I also will reward you, because you have done this deed. 2:7 Now be courageous and prove to be valiant warriors, for your lord Saul is dead. The people of Judah have anointed me as king over them.”

David’s Army Clashes with the Army of Saul

2:8 Now Abner son of Ner, the general in command of Saul’s army, had taken Saul’s son Ish-bosheth and had brought him to Mahanaim. 2:9 He appointed him king over Gilead, the Geshurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all Israel. 2:10 Ish-bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he began to rule over Israel. He ruled two years. However, the people of Judah followed David. 2:11 David was king in Hebron over the people of Judah for seven and a half years.

2:12 Then Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 2:13 Joab son of Zeruiah and the servants of David also went out and confronted them at the pool of Gibeon. One group stationed themselves on one side of the pool, and the other group on the other side of the pool. 2:14 Abner said to Joab, “Let the soldiers get up and fight before us.” Joab said, “So be it!”

2:15 So they got up and crossed over by number: twelve belonging to Benjamin and to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David. 2:16 As they grappled with one another, each one stabbed his opponent with his sword and they fell dead together. So that place is called the Field of Flints; it is in Gibeon.

2:17 Now the battle was very severe that day; Abner and the men of Israel were overcome by David’s soldiers. 2:18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there – Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. (Now Asahel was as quick on his feet as one of the gazelles in the field.) 2:19 Asahel chased Abner, without turning to the right or to the left as he followed Abner.

2:20 Then Abner turned and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?” He replied, “Yes it is!” 2:21 Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right or to your left. Capture one of the soldiers and take his equipment for yourself!” But Asahel was not willing to turn aside from following him. 2:22 So Abner spoke again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me! I do not want to strike you to the ground. How then could I show my face in the presence of Joab your brother?” 2:23 But Asahel refused to turn aside. So Abner struck him in the abdomen with the back end of his spear. The spear came out his back; Asahel collapsed on the spot and died there right before Abner. Everyone who now comes to the place where Asahel fell dead pauses in respect.

2:24 So Joab and Abishai chased Abner. At sunset they came to the hill of Ammah near Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon. 2:25 The Benjaminites formed their ranks behind Abner and were like a single army, standing at the top of a certain hill.

2:26 Then Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will turn bitter in the end? When will you tell the people to turn aside from pursuing their brothers?” 2:27 Joab replied, “As surely as God lives, if you had not said this, it would have been morning before the people would have abandoned pursuit of their brothers!” 2:28 Then Joab blew the ram’s horn and all the people stopped in their tracks. They stopped chasing Israel and ceased fighting. 2:29 Abner and his men went through the Arabah all that night. They crossed the Jordan River and went through the whole region of Bitron and came to Mahanaim.

2:30 Now Joab returned from chasing Abner and assembled all the people. Nineteen of David’s soldiers were missing, in addition to Asahel. 2:31 But David’s soldiers had slaughtered the Benjaminites and Abner’s men – in all, 360 men had died! 2:32 They took Asahel’s body and buried him in his father’s tomb at Bethlehem. Joab and his men then traveled all that night and reached Hebron by dawn.

3:1 However, the war was prolonged between the house of Saul and the house of David. David was becoming steadily stronger, while the house of Saul was becoming increasingly weaker.

3:2 Now sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, born to Ahinoam the Jezreelite. 3:3 His second son was Kileab, born to Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. His third son was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur. 3:4 His fourth son was Adonijah, the son of Haggith. His fifth son was Shephatiah, the son of Abitail. 3:5 His sixth son was Ithream, born to David’s wife Eglah. These sons were all born to David in Hebron.

Abner Defects to David’s Camp

3:6 As the war continued between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was becoming more influential in the house of Saul. 3:7 Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you have sexual relations with my father’s concubine?”

3:8 These words of Ish-bosheth really angered Abner and he said, “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah? This very day I am demonstrating loyalty to the house of Saul your father and to his relatives and his friends! I have not betrayed you into the hand of David. Yet you have accused me of sinning with this woman today! 3:9 God will severely judge Abner if I do not do for David exactly what the Lord has promised him, 3:10 namely, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah all the way from Dan to Beer Sheba!” 3:11 Ish-bosheth was unable to answer Abner with even a single word because he was afraid of him.

3:12 Then Abner sent messengers to David saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make an agreement with me, and I will do whatever I can to cause all Israel to turn to you.” 3:13 So David said, “Good! I will make an agreement with you. I ask only one thing from you. You will not see my face unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to visit me.”

3:14 David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth son of Saul with this demand: “Give me my wife Michal whom I acquired for a hundred Philistine foreskins.” 3:15 So Ish-bosheth took her from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. 3:16 Her husband went along behind her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Finally Abner said to him, “Go back!” So he returned home.

3:17 Abner advised the elders of Israel, “Previously you were wanting David to be your king. 3:18 Act now! For the Lord has said to David, ‘By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the Philistines and from all their enemies.’”

3:19 Then Abner spoke privately with the Benjaminites. Abner also went to Hebron to inform David privately of all that Israel and the entire house of Benjamin had agreed to. 3:20 When Abner, accompanied by twenty men, came to David in Hebron, David prepared a banquet for Abner and the men who were with him. 3:21 Abner said to David, “Let me leave so that I may go and gather all Israel to my lord the king so that they may make an agreement with you. Then you will rule over all that you desire.” So David sent Abner away, and he left in peace.

Abner Is Killed

3:22 Now David’s soldiers and Joab were coming back from a raid, bringing a great deal of plunder with them. Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, for David had sent him away and he had left in peace. 3:23 When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, Joab was told: “Abner the son of Ner came to the king; he sent him away, and he left in peace!”

3:24 So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Abner has come to you! Why would you send him away? Now he’s gone on his way! 3:25 You know Abner the son of Ner! Surely he came here to spy on you and to determine when you leave and when you return and to discover everything that you are doing!”

3:26 Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the well of Sirah. (But David was not aware of it.) 3:27 When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gate as if to speak privately with him. Joab then stabbed him in the abdomen and killed him, avenging the shed blood of his brother Asahel.

3:28 When David later heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the Lord of the shed blood of Abner son of Ner! 3:29 May his blood whirl over the head of Joab and the entire house of his father! May the males of Joab’s house never cease to have someone with a running sore or a skin disease or one who works at the spindle or one who falls by the sword or one who lacks food!”

3:30 So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel in Gibeon during the battle.

3:31 David instructed Joab and all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes! Put on sackcloth! Lament before Abner!” Now King David followed behind the funeral bier. 3:32 So they buried Abner in Hebron. The king cried loudly over Abner’s grave and all the people wept too. 3:33 The king chanted the following lament for Abner:

“Should Abner have died like a fool?

3:34 Your hands were not bound,

and your feet were not put into irons.

You fell the way one falls before criminals.”

All the people wept over him again. 3:35 Then all the people came and encouraged David to eat food while it was still day. But David took an oath saying, “God will punish me severely if I taste bread or anything whatsoever before the sun sets!”

3:36 All the people noticed this and it pleased them. In fact, everything the king did pleased all the people. 3:37 All the people and all Israel realized on that day that the killing of Abner son of Ner was not done at the king’s instigation.

3:38 Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great leader has fallen this day in Israel? 3:39 Today I am weak, even though I am anointed as king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too much for me to bear! May the Lord punish appropriately the one who has done this evil thing!”

Ish-bosheth is killed

4:1 When Ish-bosheth the son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he was very disheartened, and all Israel was afraid. 4:2 Now Saul’s son had two men who were in charge of raiding units; one was named Baanah and the other Recab. They were sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, who was a Benjaminite. (Beeroth is regarded as belonging to Benjamin, 4:3 for the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have remained there as resident foreigners until the present time.)

4:4 Now Saul’s son Jonathan had a son who was crippled in both feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan arrived from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but in her haste to get away, he fell and was injured. Mephibosheth was his name.

4:5 Now the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite – Recab and Baanah – went at the hottest part of the day to the home of Ish-bosheth, as he was enjoying his midday rest. 4:6 They entered the house under the pretense of getting wheat and mortally wounded him in the stomach. Then Recab and his brother Baanah escaped.

4:7 They had entered the house while Ish-bosheth was resting on his bed in his bedroom. They mortally wounded him and then cut off his head. Taking his head, they traveled on the way of the Arabah all that night. 4:8 They brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David in Hebron, saying to the king, “Look! The head of Ish-bosheth son of Saul, your enemy who sought your life! The Lord has granted vengeance to my lord the king this day against Saul and his descendants!”

4:9 David replied to Recab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered my life from all adversity, 4:10 when someone told me that Saul was dead – even though he thought he was bringing good news – I seized him and killed him in Ziklag. That was the good news I gave to him! 4:11 Surely when wicked men have killed an innocent man as he slept in his own house, should I not now require his blood from your hands and remove you from the earth?”

4:12 So David issued orders to the soldiers and they put them to death. Then they cut off their hands and feet and hung them near the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner in Hebron.

David Is Anointed King Over Israel

5:1 All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron saying, “Look, we are your very flesh and blood! 5:2 In the past, when Saul was our king, you were the real leader in Israel. The Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel; you will rule over Israel.’”

5:3 When all the leaders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, King David made an agreement with them in Hebron before the Lord. They designated David as king over Israel. 5:4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign and he reigned for forty years. 5:5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned for thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

David Occupies Jerusalem

5:6 Then the king and his men advanced to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who lived in the land. The Jebusites said to David, “You cannot invade this place! Even the blind and the lame will turn you back, saying, ‘David cannot invade this place!’”

5:7 But David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the city of David). 5:8 David said on that day, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must approach the ‘lame’ and the ‘blind’ who are David’s enemies by going through the water tunnel.” For this reason it is said, “The blind and the lame cannot enter the palace.”

5:9 So David lived in the fortress and called it the City of David. David built all around it, from the terrace inwards. 5:10 David’s power grew steadily, for the Lord God who commands armies was with him.

5:11 King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons. They built a palace for David. 5:12 David realized that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that he had elevated his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. 5:13 David married more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he arrived from Hebron. Even more sons and daughters were born to David. 5:14 These are the names of children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5:15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 5:16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

Prayer

Lord, we mourn with You those who might have served You well but who foolishly chose another direction. May I be found faithful so that it may be said at my passing that my life was lived imperfectly(of course), but on-whole, for You. May I be careful to pray and listen so that I am acting in accordance with Your will. You anointed David as King, and caused events to fulfill Your prophesy, even as You allowed foolish men to make the process more messy than it needed to be. May I be patient and prayerful so that my actions reflect Your will more closely. King David was far from perfect, only You are perfect. May I never have unrealistic expectations of myself or others in leadership and look instead to You to be my one true King.

Scripture In Perspective

Psalm 121 “My help comes from the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth!”

Psalm 123 “I look up toward you, the one enthroned in heaven.”

Psalm 124 ““If the Lord had not been on our side” ... they would have swallowed us alive, when their anger raged against us.”

Psalm 125 “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion; it cannot be upended and will endure forever.”

Psalm 128 “How blessed is every one of the Lord’s loyal followers, each one who keeps his commands!”

Psalm 129 “The Lord is just; he cut the ropes of the wicked.”“

Psalm 130 “If you, O Lord, were to keep track of sins, O Lord, who could stand before you?”

As recorded in 1 Samuel 29-30 David was engaged in a rescue mission of his family and those of his 600 men against the Amalekites and was therefore unaware of the circumstances of the battle between Saul and the Philistines. He had returned to Ziklag, although largely destroyed, it remained the temporary home of David and his followers.

A young Amalekite, apparently seeking favor with David, whom many thought to be an enemy of Saul arrived with news of Saul’s death and with a story that he had delivered the final fatal blow to the mortally-wounded Saul. He brought with him Saul’s crown and arm bracelet as trophies, which he presented to David.

As recorded in 1 Samuel 31, Saul had asked his Israelite armor bearer to kill him but he was fearful of killing the Lord’s anointed, so Saul had therefore fallen on his own sword. It appears that the Amalekite was either lying and had merely removed the crown and bracelet from Saul’s corpse, or had found Saul wounded by the arrows and his own sword and finished things. David ordered a soldier to execute the non-Israelite man for killing the Lord’s anointed.

David then wrote one of his somewhat hyperbolic poetic-songs of lament and remembrance for Saul and Jonathan. David is anointed King but those still loyal to Saul’s family take advantage of his established kingdom and anoint one of his remaining sons as king. A running-battle ensues between the competing kingdoms.

As the civil war continues the Lord God gives success to David’s forces while those aligned with Saul’s son Ish-bosheth not only lost numbers in battle but in loyalty from Israelites as well.

Abner, who had foolishly anointed Saul’s son as king despite knowing that God has anointed David, is insulted by Saul’s son and decides to transfer his loyalty to David.

David made the return of his wife, Michal, a condition of a meeting with Abner to discuss the terms of peace and the reunification of Israel. Abner made it happen despite the protests of her second husband. [Saul had wrongly taken her from David and given her to another in a fit of anger.]

David and Abner agreed to terms but Joab, seeking revenge for Abner’s killing of his brother in battle, murdered Abner without David’s knowledge.

David mourned Abner and the people recognized that his murder was not David’s doing, the people found David agreeable for other reasons as well, and David spoke a curse upon Joab and his family for the murder.

David’s eighteenth Psalm was a celebration of the Lord God’s rescue. The text describes the Lord’s direct intervention as well as His empowering of David for battle.

Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, the illegitimate king installed by Abner, was murdered and his killers presented his head to King David. David responded to them the same as the Amalekite who claimed to have killed Saul – he had them executed.

The leaders of the tribes of Israel then swore allegiance to David.

David marched into Jerusalem, despite the dire warnings of the Jebusites who insisted that even the blind and lame there would resist him, and he established the center of his kingdom there.

King Hiram of Tyre, a wealthy Phoenician city, sent many resources to assist David in building a palace. David gave God the glory for establishing him as King and for blessing the kingdom.

David married several other concubines and wives and fathered many more children.

Interact With The Text

Consider

Because Saul had driven David away his best warrior, and the one most-blessed by the Lord God, was not with him in the great battle with the Philistines. Abner, who had been serving the apostate Saul, didn't bother to consult the Lord God but went ahead and anointed Saul's son Ish-bosheth as king. The destructive impact of Saul's failures continued even after his death. Abner knew the right thing to do but it took a personal insult to motivate him to do so. The adoptive Benjaminites, Recab and Baanah, repeated the error of the Amalekite by imagining that murder was a good way to curry favor with King David.

Discuss

Why would the Amalekite soldier have gone to David rather than the Philistines with Saul's crown and bracelet? Since Saul had once acknowledged, in Abner's hearing, that David was God's anointed to be the next king, was Abner just protecting his position or getting even with David for teasing him for not protecting Saul? Why would David want Michal back since he knew that Deuteronomy taught that one must not take back a former wife who had been married to another? Why would the King of Tyre make such a great effort to assist King David?

Reflect

Despite all of his flaws David still respected Saul for his title from God, and like Samuel, longed for the Saul who could and should have been a faithful and blessed servant of the Lord God. He also even more so lamented his faithful and dear friend Jonathan, a man whose future had been sacrificed on the altar of his father’s ego, foolish jealousy, and impetuous carelessness in his relationship with God. Abner should have known, from what happened to Saul and his other sons, what would inevitably happen when he opposed God’s anointed – David. Joab joined everyone else with his own personal act of rebellion, his was to exact vengeance when the Lord God had said we must leave vengeance to Him. David was very imperfect, adding concubines and wives as he consolidated political power, and in many cases including non-Israelites among them.

Share

When have you lamented the death of someone whose life was more promise than results? When have you observed someone resisting legitimate Biblical authority despite clear evidence that they were in the wrong? When have you been so upset that you acted against what you knew to be God’s will? When have you experienced or observed blessings coming to believers from unexpected non-believer sources?

Faith In Action

Pray

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone who needs your encouragement and prayer to draw nearer to the Lord and to reveal to you a place where, despite the blessings of the Lord God, you are indulging in behaviors which do not bring glory to him but only pleasure to you.

Act

Today I will encourage and pray in-earnest for the one whom the Holy Spirit has identified. I will pray in-agreement that they will draw nearer to the Lord so that they may be instruments of His blessing to others and thus be themselves blessed. I will step out in faith to support a Biblical leader, be it in the role of a parent, teacher, pastor, counselor, or other role. I will confess, ask and receive God’s forgiveness, and repent (turn away from) whatever it is that the Holy Spirit showed me was wrong before the Lord God. It may be laziness because I am selfishly avoiding carrying my fair share of work, gossip because I dislike or am jealous of someone, lying to avoid consequences for something I should not have done, flirting when I am married or flirting with someone else’s spouse or otherwise acting inappropriately toward another in a sexual manner, etc. I will ask another believer to pray-agreement for my continued surrender of this part of my life to the Lordship of Christ through the Holy Spirit. I will focus my attention on serving the Lord God with all of my resources and ignore the temptation to misuse my blessings in selfish indulgence.

Be Specific _________________________________________________

Wednesday (Psalms 6, 8-10, 14, 16, 19, 21)

6:1 For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments, according to the sheminith style; a psalm of David.

Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger!

Do not discipline me in your raging fury!

6:2 Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am frail!

Heal me, Lord, for my bones are shaking!

6:3 I am absolutely terrified, and you, Lord – how long will this continue?

6:4 Relent, Lord, rescue me!

Deliver me because of your faithfulness!

6:5 For no one remembers you in the realm of death, In Sheol who gives you thanks?

6:6 I am exhausted as I groan; all night long I drench my bed in tears; my tears saturate the cushion beneath me.

6:7 My eyes grow dim from suffering; they grow weak because of all my enemies.

6:8 Turn back from me, all you who behave wickedly, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping!

6:9 The Lord has heard my appeal for mercy; the Lord has accepted my prayer.

6:10 May all my enemies be humiliated and absolutely terrified!

May they turn back and be suddenly humiliated!

Psalm 8

8:1 For the music director, according to the gittith style; a psalm of David.

O Lord, our Lord, how magnificent is your reputation throughout the earth!

You reveal your majesty in the heavens above!

8:2 From the mouths of children and nursing babies you have ordained praise on account of your adversaries, so that you might put an end to the vindictive enemy.

8:3 When I look up at the heavens, which your fingers made, and see the moon and the stars, which you set in place,

8:4 Of what importance is the human race, that you should notice them?

Of what importance is mankind, that you should pay attention to them,

8:5 and make them a little less than the heavenly beings?

You grant mankind honor and majesty;

8:6 you appoint them to rule over your creation; you have placed everything under their authority,

8:7 including all the sheep and cattle, as well as the wild animals,

8:8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea and everything that moves through the currents of the seas.

8:9 O Lord, our Lord, how magnificent is your reputation throughout the earth!

Psalm 9

9:1 For the music director; according to the alumoth-labben style; a psalm of David.

I will thank the Lord with all my heart!

I will tell about all your amazing deeds!

9:2 I will be happy and rejoice in you!

I will sing praises to you, O sovereign One!

9:3 When my enemies turn back, they trip and are defeated before you.

9:4 For you defended my just cause; from your throne you pronounced a just decision.

9:5 You terrified the nations with your battle cry; you destroyed the wicked; you permanently wiped out all memory of them.

9:6 The enemy’s cities have been reduced to permanent ruins; you destroyed their cities; all memory of the enemies has perished.

9:7 But the Lord rules forever; he reigns in a just manner.

9:8 He judges the world fairly; he makes just legal decisions for the nations.

9:9 Consequently the Lord provides safety for the oppressed; he provides safety in times of trouble.

9:10 Your loyal followers trust in you, for you, Lord, do not abandon those who seek your help.

9:11 Sing praises to the Lord, who rules in Zion!

Tell the nations what he has done!

9:12 For the one who takes revenge against murderers took notice of the oppressed; he did not overlook their cry for help

9:13 when they prayed: “Have mercy on me, Lord!

See how I am oppressed by those who hate me, O one who can snatch me away from the gates of death!

9:14 Then I will tell about all your praiseworthy acts; in the gates of Daughter Zion I will rejoice because of your deliverance.”

9:15 The nations fell into the pit they had made; their feet were caught in the net they had hidden.

9:16 The Lord revealed himself; he accomplished justice; the wicked were ensnared by their own actions. (Higgaion. Selah)

9:17 The wicked are turned back and sent to Sheol; this is the destiny of all the nations that ignore God,

9:18 for the needy are not permanently ignored, the hopes of the oppressed are not forever dashed.

9:19 Rise up, Lord!

Don’t let men be defiant!

May the nations be judged in your presence!

9:20 Terrify them, Lord!

Let the nations know they are mere mortals! (Selah)

Psalm 10

10:1 Why, Lord, do you stand far off?

Why do you pay no attention during times of trouble?

10:2 The wicked arrogantly chase the oppressed; the oppressed are trapped by the schemes the wicked have dreamed up.

10:3 Yes, the wicked man boasts because he gets what he wants; the one who robs others curses and rejects the Lord.

O Lord, the king rejoices in the strength you give; he takes great delight in the deliverance you provide.

21:2 You grant him his heart’s desire; you do not refuse his request. (Selah)

21:3 For you bring him rich blessings; you place a golden crown on his head.

21:4 He asked you to sustain his life, and you have granted him long life and an enduring dynasty.

21:5 Your deliverance brings him great honor; you give him majestic splendor.

21:6 For you grant him lasting blessings; you give him great joy by allowing him into your presence.

21:7 For the king trusts in the Lord, and because of the sovereign Lord’s faithfulness he is not upended.

21:8 You prevail over all your enemies; your power is too great for those who hate you.

21:9 You burn them up like a fiery furnace when you appear; the Lord angrily devours them; the fire consumes them.

21:10 You destroy their offspring from the earth, their descendants from among the human race.

21:11 Yes, they intend to do you harm; they dream up a scheme, but they do not succeed.

21:12 For you make them retreat when you shoot your arrows at them.

21:13 Rise up, O Lord, in strength!

We will sing and praise your power!

Prayer

Lord, when we dwell in praise of You our faith grows and deepens, so it is stronger when most needed - during troubled times. May I praise You daily, in prayer and song, in my talk and in my walk.

Scripture In Perspective

David’s sixth Psalm came as David had reached a low point in his struggle against his enemies, he cried out to the Lord God in great angst, and yet still affirmed his certainty that the Lord had heard him and had already set about the destruction of his enemies and his path to restoration.

David’s eighth Psalm was a praise song. He praised the Lord God for Creation, for delegating care of Creation to man, and he observed that all of Creation is designed to give Him praise.

David’s ninth Psalm celebrated the Lord God’s rescue, His love and protection of his people, and His punishment of rebels.

David’s tenth Psalm took a sudden turn as he began to plead with the Lord God for protection and he brought forth an imprecatory prayer against his enemies. He concluded with his usual assurance that God was faithful and just and would make things right.

David’s fourteenth Psalm recorded David’s return to his reflection upon the wickedness of the rebellious and their intent to victimize the already-oppressed; yet David celebrated that they were in terror of the potential return of the Lord God and that he was looking forward to the intervention of the Lord.

David’s sixteenth Psalm celebrated the Lord God’s blessings and the dependence of the righteous upon Him.

David’s nineteenth Psalm celebrated the testimony to the magnificence of Lord God that may be found in the sun and the moon and the stars. He then directed people to learn and to trust in the law and wisdom of the Lord. David asked the Lord to not punish him for unintentional sin and to keep him from all sin. He concluded with a plea that his “... words and thoughts be acceptable …” to the Lord, acknowledging Him as “... my sheltering rock and my redeemer.”

David’s twenty-first Psalm was a song of praise and thanks for the Lord God’s provision and protection of him as king.

Interact With The Text

Consider

David was wise to remember God through praise.

Discuss

Why would remembering what God had done in Creation and since be important to David as he faced new troubles?

Reflect

David did not, at this time, drift into Job’s error of questioning the Lord God.

Share

When have you discovered that your times of praise had strengthened your faith to bear-up as trouble times came?

Faith In Action

Pray

Ask the Holy Spirit to assist you in making time for daily praise and worship.

Act

Today I will make a sacrifice of the less-important things of this world in order to make room for the more-important things of eternity. I will praise the Lord!

1:10 Cush was the father of Nimrod, who established himself as a mighty warrior on earth.

1:11 Mizraim was the father of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, 1:12 Pathrusites, Casluhites (from whom the Philistines descended), and the Caphtorites.

1:13 Canaan was the father of Sidon – his firstborn – and Heth, 1:14 as well as the Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, 1:15 Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, 1:16 Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites.

Shem’s Descendants

1:17 The sons of Shem:

Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.

The sons of Aram:

Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech.

1:18 Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, and Shelah was the father of Eber. 1:19 Two sons were born to Eber: the first was named Peleg, for during his lifetime the earth was divided; his brother’s name was Joktan.

1:20 Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 1:21 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 1:22 Ebal, Abimael, Sheba, 1:23 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.

Er, Onan, and Shelah. These three were born to him by Bathshua, a Canaanite woman. Er, Judah’s firstborn, displeased the Lord, so the Lord killed him.

2:4 Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, bore to him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all.

2:5 The sons of Perez:

Hezron and Hamul.

2:6 The sons of Zerah:

Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Kalkol, Dara – five in all.

2:7 The son of Carmi:

Achan, who brought the disaster on Israel when he stole what was devoted to God.

2:8 The son of Ethan:

Azariah.

2:9 The sons born to Hezron:

Jerahmeel, Ram, and Caleb.

Ram’s Descendants

2:10 Ram was the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab was the father of Nahshon, the tribal chief of Judah. 2:11 Nahshon was the father of Salma, and Salma was the father of Boaz. 2:12 Boaz was the father of Obed, and Obed was the father of Jesse.

2:13 Jesse was the father of Eliab, his firstborn; Abinadab was born second, Shimea third, 2:14 Nethanel fourth, Raddai fifth, 2:15 Ozem sixth, David seventh. 2:16 Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. Zeruiah’s three sons were Abshai, Joab, and Asahel. 2:17 Abigail bore Amasa, whose father was Jether the Ishmaelite.

Caleb’s Descendants

2:18 Caleb son of Hezron fathered sons by his wife Azubah (also known as Jerioth). Her sons were Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon. 2:19 When Azubah died, Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur. 2:20 Hur was the father of Uri, and Uri was the father of Bezalel.

2:21 Later Hezron had sexual relations with the daughter of Makir, the father of Gilead. (He had married her when he was sixty years old.) She bore him Segub. 2:22 Segub was the father of Jair, who owned twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead. 2:23 (Geshur and Aram captured the towns of Jair, along with Kenath and its sixty surrounding towns.) All these were descendants of Makir, the father of Gilead.

2:24 After Hezron’s death, Caleb had sexual relations with Ephrath, his father Hezron’s widow, and she bore to him Ashhur the father of Tekoa.

Jerahmeel’s Descendants

2:25 The sons of Jerahmeel, Hezron’s firstborn, were Ram, the firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah. 2:26 Jerahmeel had another wife named Atarah; she was Onam’s mother.

2:27 The sons of Ram, Jerahmeel’s firstborn, were Maaz, Jamin, and Eker.

2:28 The sons of Onam were Shammai and Jada.

The sons of Shammai:

Nadab and Abishur.

2:29 Abishur’s wife was Abihail, who bore him Ahban and Molid.

2:30 The sons of Nadab:

Seled and Appaim. (Seled died without having sons.)

2:31 The son of Appaim:

Ishi.

The son of Ishi:

Sheshan.

The son of Sheshan:

Ahlai.

2:32 The sons of Jada, Shammai’s brother:

Jether and Jonathan. (Jether died without having sons.)

2:33 The sons of Jonathan:

Peleth and Zaza.

These were the descendants of Jerahmeel.

2:34 Sheshan had no sons, only daughters. Sheshan had an Egyptian servant named Jarha. 2:35 Sheshan gave his daughter to his servant Jarha as a wife; she bore him Attai.

2:36 Attai was the father of Nathan, and Nathan was the father of Zabad. 2:37 Zabad was the father of Ephlal, and Ephlal was the father of Obed. 2:38 Obed was the father of Jehu, and Jehu was the father of Azariah. 2:39 Azariah was the father of Helez, and Helez was the father of Eleasah. 2:40 Eleasah was the father of Sismai, and Sismai was the father of Shallum. 2:41 Shallum was the father of Jekamiah, and Jekamiah was the father of Elishama.

More of Caleb’s Descendants

2:42 The sons of Caleb, Jerahmeel’s brother:

His firstborn Mesha, the father of Ziph, and his second son Mareshah, the father of Hebron.

2:43 The sons of Hebron:

Korah, Tappuah, Rekem, and Shema.

2:44 Shema was the father of Raham, the father of Jorkeam. Rekem was the father of Shammai. 2:45 Shammai’s son was Maon, who was the father of Beth-Zur.

2:46 Caleb’s concubine Ephah bore Haran, Moza, and Gazez. Haran was the father of Gazez.

2:47 The sons of Jahdai:

Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph.

2:48 Caleb’s concubine Maacah bore Sheber and Tirhanah. 2:49 She also bore Shaaph the father of Madmannah and Sheva the father of Machbenah and Gibea. Caleb’s daughter was Achsah.

2:50 These were the descendants of Caleb.

The sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrath:

Shobal, the father of Kiriath Jearim, 2:51 Salma, the father of Bethlehem, Hareph, the father of Beth-Gader.

2:52 The sons of Shobal, the father of Kiriath Jearim, were Haroeh, half of the Manahathites, 2:53 the clans of Kiriath Jearim – the Ithrites, Puthites, Shumathites, and Mishraites. (The Zorathites and Eshtaolites descended from these groups.)

2:54 The sons of Salma:

Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth Beth-Joab, half the Manahathites, the Zorites, 2:55 and the clans of the scribes who lived in Jabez: the Tirathites, Shimeathites, and Sucathites. These are the Kenites who descended from Hammath, the father of Beth-Rechab.

Psalms

43:1 Vindicate me, O God!

Fight for me against an ungodly nation!

Deliver me from deceitful and evil men!

43:2 For you are the God who shelters me.

Why do you reject me?

Why must I walk around mourning because my enemies oppress me?

43:3 Reveal your light and your faithfulness!

They will lead me, they will escort me back to your holy hill, and to the place where you live.

43:4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to the God who gives me ecstatic joy, so that I express my thanks to you, O God, my God, with a harp.

43:5 Why are you depressed, O my soul?

Why are you upset?

Wait for God!

For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention.

44:1 For the music director; by the Korahites, a well-written song.

O God, we have clearly heard; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in ancient times.

44:2 You, by your power, defeated nations and settled our fathers on their land; you crushed the people living there and enabled our ancestors to occupy it.

44:3 For they did not conquer the land by their swords, and they did not prevail by their strength, but rather by your power, strength and good favor, for you were partial to them.

44:4 You are my king, O God!

Decree Jacob’s deliverance!

44:5 By your power we will drive back our enemies; by your strength we will trample down our foes!

44:6 For I do not trust in my bow, and I do not prevail by my sword.

44:7 For you deliver us from our enemies; you humiliate those who hate us.

44:8 In God I boast all day long, and we will continually give thanks to your name. (Selah)

44:9 But you rejected and embarrassed us!

You did not go into battle with our armies.

44:10 You made us retreat from the enemy. Those who hate us take whatever they want from us.

44:11 You handed us over like sheep to be eaten; you scattered us among the nations.

44:12 You sold your people for a pittance; you did not ask a high price for them.

44:13 You made us an object of disdain to our neighbors; those who live on our borders taunt and insult us.

44:14 You made us an object of ridicule among the nations; foreigners treat us with contempt.

44:15 All day long I feel humiliated and am overwhelmed with shame,

44:16 before the vindictive enemy who ridicules and insults me.

44:17 All this has happened to us, even though we have not rejected you or violated your covenant with us.

44:18 We have not been unfaithful, nor have we disobeyed your commands.

44:19 Yet you have battered us, leaving us a heap of ruins overrun by wild dogs; you have covered us with darkness.

44:20 If we had rejected our God, and spread out our hands in prayer to another god,

44:21 would not God discover it, for he knows one’s thoughts?

44:22 Yet because of you we are killed all day long; we are treated like sheep at the slaughtering block.

44:23 Rouse yourself! Why do you sleep, O Lord?

Wake up! Do not reject us forever!

44:24 Why do you look the other way, and ignore the way we are oppressed and mistreated?

44:25 For we lie in the dirt, with our bellies pressed to the ground.

44:26 Rise up and help us!

Rescue us because of your loyal love!

45:1 For the music director; according to the tune of “Lilies;” by the Korahites, a well-written poem, a love song.

My heart is stirred by a beautiful song. I say, “I have composed this special song for the king; my tongue is as skilled as the stylus of an experienced scribe.”

45:2 You are the most handsome of all men!

You speak in an impressive and fitting manner!

For this reason God grants you continual blessings.

45:3 Strap your sword to your thigh, O warrior!

Appear in your majestic splendor!

45:4 Appear in your majesty and be victorious!

Ride forth for the sake of what is right, on behalf of justice!

Then your right hand will accomplish mighty acts!

45:5 Your arrows are sharp and penetrate the hearts of the king’s enemies. Nations fall at your feet.

45:6 Your throne, O God, is permanent. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of justice.

45:7 You love justice and hate evil. For this reason God, your God has anointed you with the oil of joy, elevating you above your companions.

45:8 All your garments are perfumed with myrrh, aloes, and cassia. From the luxurious palaces comes the music of stringed instruments that makes you happy.

45:9 Princesses are among your honored guests, your bride stands at your right hand, wearing jewelry made with gold from Ophir.

45:10 Listen, O princess!

Observe and pay attention!

Forget your homeland and your family!

45:11 Then the king will be attracted by your beauty. After all, he is your master! Submit to him!

45:12 Rich people from Tyre will seek your favor by bringing a gift.

45:13 The princess looks absolutely magnificent, decked out in pearls and clothed in a brocade trimmed with gold.

45:14 In embroidered robes she is escorted to the king. Her attendants, the maidens of honor who follow her, are led before you.

45:15 They are bubbling with joy as they walk in procession and enter the royal palace.

45:16 Your sons will carry on the dynasty of your ancestors; you will make them princes throughout the land.

45:17 I will proclaim your greatness through the coming years, then the nations will praise you forever.

49:1 For the music director, a psalm by the Korahites.

Listen to this, all you nations!

Pay attention, all you inhabitants of the world!

49:2 Pay attention, all you people, both rich and poor!

49:3 I will declare a wise saying; I will share my profound thoughts.

49:4 I will learn a song that imparts wisdom; I will then sing my insightful song to the accompaniment of a harp.

49:5 Why should I be afraid in times of trouble, when the sinful deeds of deceptive men threaten to overwhelm me?

49:8 (the ransom price for a human life is too high, and people go to their final destiny),

49:9 so that he might continue to live forever and not experience death.

49:10 Surely one sees that even wise people die; fools and spiritually insensitive people all pass away and leave their wealth to others.

49:11 Their grave becomes their permanent residence, their eternal dwelling place. They name their lands after themselves,

49:12 but, despite their wealth, people do not last, they are like animals that perish.

49:13 This is the destiny of fools, and of those who approve of their philosophy. (Selah)

49:14 They will travel to Sheol like sheep, with death as their shepherd. The godly will rule over them when the day of vindication dawns; Sheol will consume their bodies and they will no longer live in impressive houses.

49:15 But God will rescue my life from the power of Sheol; certainly he will pull me to safety. (Selah)

49:16 Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich and his wealth multiplies!

49:17 For he will take nothing with him when he dies; his wealth will not follow him down into the grave.

49:18 He pronounces this blessing on himself while he is alive: “May men praise you, for you have done well!”

49:19 But he will join his ancestors; they will never again see the light of day.

49:20 Wealthy people do not understand; they are like animals that perish.

84:1 For the music director; according to the gittith style; written by the Korahites, a psalm.

How lovely is the place where you live, O Lord who rules over all!

84:2 I desperately want to be in the courts of the Lord’s temple. My heart and my entire being shout for joy to the living God.

84:3 Even the birds find a home there, and the swallow builds a nest, where she can protect her young near your altars, O Lord who rules over all, my king and my God.

84:4 How blessed are those who live in your temple and praise you continually! (Selah)

84:5 How blessed are those who find their strength in you, and long to travel the roads that lead to your temple!

84:6 As they pass through the Baca Valley, he provides a spring for them. The rain even covers it with pools of water.

84:7 They are sustained as they travel along; each one appears before God in Zion.

84:8 O Lord, sovereign God, hear my prayer!

Listen, O God of Jacob! (Selah)

84:9 O God, take notice of our shield!

Show concern for your chosen king!

84:10 Certainly spending just one day in your temple courts is better than spending a thousand elsewhere. I would rather stand at the entrance to the temple of my God than live in the tents of the wicked.

84:11 For the Lord God is our sovereign protector. The Lord bestows favor and honor; he withholds no good thing from those who have integrity.

84:12 O Lord who rules over all, how blessed are those who trust in you!

Psalm 85

85:1 For the music director; written by the Korahites, a psalm.

O Lord, you showed favor to your land; you restored the well-being of Jacob.

85:2 You pardoned the wrongdoing of your people; you forgave all their sin. (Selah)

85:3 You withdrew all your fury; you turned back from your raging anger.

85:4 Restore us, O God our deliverer!

Do not be displeased with us!

85:5 Will you stay mad at us forever?

Will you remain angry throughout future generations?

85:6 Will you not revive us once more?

Then your people will rejoice in you!

85:7 O Lord, show us your loyal love!

Bestow on us your deliverance!

85:8 I will listen to what God the Lord says. For he will make peace with his people, his faithful followers. Yet they must not return to their foolish ways.

85:9 Certainly his loyal followers will soon experience his deliverance; then his splendor will again appear in our land.

85:10 Loyal love and faithfulness meet; deliverance and peace greet each other with a kiss.

85:11 Faithfulness grows from the ground, and deliverance looks down from the sky.

85:12 Yes, the Lord will bestow his good blessings, and our land will yield its crops.

85:13 Deliverance goes before him, and prepares a pathway for him.

87:1 Written by the Korahites; a psalm, a song.

The Lord’s city is in the holy hills.

87:2 The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.

87:3 People say wonderful things about you, O city of God. (Selah)

87:4 I mention Rahab and Babylon to my followers. Here are Philistia and Tyre, along with Ethiopia. It is said of them, “This one was born there.”

87:5 But it is said of Zion’s residents, “Each one of these was born in her, and the sovereign One makes her secure.”

87:6 The Lord writes in the census book of the nations, “This one was born there.” (Selah)

87:7 As for the singers, as well as the pipers – all of them sing within your walls.

Prayer

Lord, Job and David both foolishly questioned Your awareness and timing, suggesting that You “slumbered” and You abandoned them without cause. May I learn from their example to never doubt You, to be patient – never as patient as You have been with me – and to emulate Job and David in their overall lives of faithful praise and obedience. Lord, throughout all time You are the sovereign One, all-knowing and all-powerful. May I obey You and praise You so that my life will be in right standing before You and You may use me in Your great plan.

Scripture In Perspective

1 Chronicles 1 – 2 document the vital family lines that slowed from the first human, Adam, pausing to cite an occasional historic note. The detail adds documentary archeological substance to the Book.

David’s forty-third Psalm was David’s self-talk as he questioned-aloud why the Lord God had not yet rescued him and yet he continued to be certain that the rescue would come.

David’s forty-fourth Psalm began with a reference to the Lord God’s protection and provision for ancient Israel, then returned again to an anxious plea for rescue. David complained that the people had not sinned against the Lord God but that He had abandoned them, without cause, to their enemies (This appears to echo the error of Job; presuming to have knowledge, apart from the Lord God, paired with the erroneous thought that one might instruct God in the ways of ‘fairness’.)

David’s forty-fifth Psalm celebrated the marriage of a king to a foreign woman, likely from Tyre, and likely for the purpose of an alliance. The young wife is encouraged not to be homesick as emotional stress might make her less-attractive. The king’s appearance in his battle regalia – the model designed for “State” affairs – was complimented. The faithfulness of the king would bring blessing from the Lord God in battle and all things.

David’s forty-ninth Psalm was a caution to not fear those with money and power over the Lord God Who would always be victorious.

Asaph’s Psalm, numbered eighty-four, was a praise-song with the following unique phrase “... spending just one day in your temple courts is better than spending a thousand elsewhere.”

Asaph’s Psalm, numbered eighty-five, was a petition which recalled God’s mercy upon Israel despite their past transgressions and asked that He show mercy one more time.

Interact With The Text

Consider

David, more than most of his peers, had enjoyed a life-long intimacy in his relationship with the Lord God – so he struggled greatly during those times that the relationship struggled. David wove the themes of the Lord God’s character and His action throughout his Psalms.

Discuss

David was obviously a highly-emotional man, could it just have been his tendency to swing from high to low which caused him to swerve into a Job-like criticism of the Lord God? Why would David make such a big thing of the appearance of the king in his ‘show uniform’ and the emotional well-being of one of his ‘treaty-wives’?

Reflect

Despite occasional lapses David generally poured-out faithful praise to the Lord. David’s warning to rich people who were arrogant and selfish, and his warning to others not to fear or idolize them, is still good counsel today.

Share

When have you struggled so badly that you wondered where was the Lord God? When have you discovered yourself being overly-impressed by the outward appearance of a leader rather than focused on the Lord God and looking for ways that the leader honored Him rather than expecting honor for himself?

Faith In Action

Pray

Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of a time when your intimacy with the Lord God was at its height and to reveal to you a place where you might be giving deference, out of awe or fear of a mere human – due to their celebrity, power, and/or wealth – and that deference is displacing the Lord God from His rightful first-place.

Act

Today I will praise the Lord for His love, for His desire to be in relationship with me, and for His patience when I drift away. I will share the story of the best time(s) with the Lord with a fellow believer, as an encouragement, and together we will praise the Lord. I will confess and repent of my functional-idolatry, however subtle, of a created being. I will accept the Lord’s forgiveness and partner with Him to increase my focus on Him.

4:2 Reaiah the son of Shobal was the father of Jahath, and Jahath was the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were the clans of the Zorathites.

4:3 These were the sons of Etam:

Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash. Their sister was Hazzelelponi.

4:4 Penuel was the father of Gedor, and Ezer was the father of Hushah. These were the descendants of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah and the father of Bethlehem.

4:5 Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah. 4:6 Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah. 4:7 The sons of Helah: Zereth, Zohar, Ethnan, 4:8 and Koz, who was the father of Anub, Hazzobebah, and the clans of Aharhel the son of Harum.

4:9 Jabez was more respected than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, for she said, “I experienced pain when I gave birth to him.” 4:10 Jabez called out to the God of Israel, “If only you would greatly bless me and expand my territory! May your hand be with me! Keep me from harm so I might not endure pain!” God answered his prayer.

4:11 Kelub, the brother of Shuhah, was the father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton. 4:12 Eshton was the father of Beth-Rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah, the father of Ir Nahash. These were the men of Recah.

4:13 The sons of Kenaz:

Othniel and Seraiah.

The sons of Othniel:

Hathath and Meonothai. 4:14 Meonothai was the father of Ophrah.

Seraiah was the father of Joab, the father of those who live in Ge Harashim, who were craftsmen.

4:15 The sons of Caleb son of Jephunneh:

Iru, Elah, and Naam.

The son of Elah:

Kenaz.

4:16 The sons of Jehallelel:

Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.

4:17 The sons of Ezrah:

Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon.

Mered’s wife Bithiah gave birth to Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah, the father of Eshtemoa. 4:18 (His Judahite wife gave birth to Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah.) These were the sons of Pharaoh’s daughter Bithiah, whom Mered married.

4:19 The sons of Hodiah’s wife, the sister of Naham:

the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maacathite.

4:20 The sons of Shimon:

Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-Hanan, and Tilon.

The descendants of Ishi:

Zoheth and Ben Zoheth.

4:21 The sons of Shelah son of Judah:

Er the father of Lecah, Laadah the father of Mareshah, the clans of the linen workers at Beth-Ashbea, 4:22 Jokim, the men of Cozeba, and Joash and Saraph, both of whom ruled in Moab and Jashubi Lehem. (This information is from ancient records.) 4:23 They were the potters who lived in Netaim and Gederah; they lived there and worked for the king.

Simeon’s Descendants

4:24 The descendants of Simeon:

Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul, 4:25 his son Shallum, his son Mibsam, and his son Mishma.

4:26 The descendants of Mishma:

His son Hammuel, his son Zaccur, and his son Shimei.

4:27 Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters. But his brothers did not have many sons, so their whole clan was not as numerous as the sons of Judah. 4:28 They lived in Beer Sheba, Moladah, Hazar Shual, 4:29 Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, 4:30 Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, 4:31 Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susim, Beth Biri, and Shaaraim. These were their towns until the reign of David. 4:32 Their settlements also included Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan – five towns. 4:33 They also lived in all the settlements that surrounded these towns as far as Baal. These were their settlements; they kept genealogical records.

4:34 Their clan leaders were:

Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah son of Amaziah, 4:35 Joel, Jehu son of Joshibiah (son of Seraiah, son of Asiel), 4:36 Eleoenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah, 4:37 Ziza son of Shipi (son of Allon, son of Jedaiah, son of Shimri, son of Shemaiah). 4:38 These who are named above were the leaders of their clans.

Their extended families increased greatly in numbers. 4:39 They went to the entrance of Gedor, to the east of the valley, looking for pasture for their sheep. 4:40 They found fertile and rich pasture; the land was very broad, undisturbed and peaceful. Indeed some Hamites had been living there prior to that. 4:41 The men whose names are listed came during the time of King Hezekiah of Judah and attacked the Hamites’ settlements, as well as the Meunites they discovered there, and they wiped them out to this very day. They dispossessed them, for they found pasture for their sheep there. 4:42 Five hundred men of Simeon, led by Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi, went to the hill country of Seir 4:43 and defeated the rest of the Amalekite refugees; they live there to this very day.

Reuben’s Descendants

5:1 The sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn –

(Now he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph, Israel’s son. So Reuben is not listed as firstborn in the genealogical records. 5:2 Though Judah was the strongest among his brothers and a leader descended from him, the right of the firstborn belonged to Joseph.)

5:3 The sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn:

Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

5:4 The descendants of Joel:

His son Shemaiah, his son Gog, his son Shimei, 5:5 his son Micah, his son Reaiah, his son Baal, 5:6 and his son Beerah, whom King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria carried into exile. Beerah was the tribal leader of Reuben.

5:7 His brothers by their clans, as listed in their genealogical records:

The leader Jeiel, Zechariah, 5:8 and Bela son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel.

They lived in Aroer as far as Nebo and Baal Meon. 5:9 In the east they settled as far as the entrance to the desert that stretches to the Euphrates River, for their cattle had increased in numbers in the land of Gilead. 5:10 During the time of Saul they attacked the Hagrites and defeated them. They took over their territory in the entire eastern region of Gilead.

Gad’s Descendants

5:11 The descendants of Gad lived near them in the land of Bashan, as far as Salecah.

5:12 They included Joel the leader, Shapham the second in command, Janai, and Shaphat in Bashan. 5:13 Their relatives, listed according to their families, included Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber – seven in all.

5:14 These were the sons of Abihail son of Huri, son of Jaroah, son of Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jeshishai, son of Jahdo, son of Buz. 5:15 Ahi son of Abdiel, son of Guni, was the leader of the family. 5:16 They lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its surrounding settlements, and in the pasturelands of Sharon to their very borders. 5:17 All of them were listed in the genealogical records in the time of King Jotham of Judah and in the time of King Jeroboam of Israel.

5:18 The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 men in their combined armies, warriors who carried shields and swords, were equipped with bows, and were trained for war. 5:19 They attacked the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. 5:20 They received divine help in fighting them, and the Hagrites and all their allies were handed over to them. They cried out to God during the battle; he responded to their prayers because they trusted in him. 5:21 They seized the Hagrites’ animals, including 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, and 2,000 donkeys. They also took captive 100,000 people. 5:22 Because God fought for them, they killed many of the enemy. They dispossessed the Hagrites and lived in their land until the exile.

The Half-Tribe of Manasseh

5:23 The half-tribe of Manasseh settled in the land from Bashan as far as Baal Hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon. They grew in number.

5:24 These were the leaders of their families:

Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. They were skilled warriors, men of reputation, and leaders of their families. 5:25 But they were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors and worshiped instead the gods of the native peoples whom God had destroyed before them. 5:26 So the God of Israel stirred up King Pul of Assyria (that is, King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria), and he carried away the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh and took them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan, where they remain to this very day.

Psalms

73:1 A psalm by Asaph.

Certainly God is good to Israel, and to those whose motives are pure!

73:2 But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my feet almost slid out from under me.

73:3 For I envied those who are proud, as I observed the prosperity of the wicked.

73:4 For they suffer no pain; their bodies are strong and well-fed.

73:5 They are immune to the trouble common to men; they do not suffer as other men do.

73:6 Arrogance is their necklace, and violence their clothing.

73:7 Their prosperity causes them to do wrong; their thoughts are sinful.

73:8 They mock and say evil things; they proudly threaten violence.

73:9 They speak as if they rule in heaven, and lay claim to the earth.

73:10 Therefore they have more than enough food to eat, and even suck up the water of the sea.

73:11 They say, “How does God know what we do?

Is the sovereign one aware of what goes on?”

73:12 Take a good look! This is what the wicked are like, those who always have it so easy and get richer and richer.

73:13 I concluded, “Surely in vain I have kept my motives pure and maintained a pure lifestyle.

73:14 I suffer all day long, and am punished every morning.”

73:15 If I had publicized these thoughts, I would have betrayed your loyal followers.

73:16 When I tried to make sense of this, it was troubling to me.

73:17 Then I entered the precincts of God’s temple, and understood the destiny of the wicked.

73:18 Surely you put them in slippery places; you bring them down to ruin.

73:19 How desolate they become in a mere moment!

Terrifying judgments make their demise complete!

73:20 They are like a dream after one wakes up.

O Lord, when you awake you will despise them.

73:21 Yes, my spirit was bitter, and my insides felt sharp pain.

73:22 I was ignorant and lacked insight; I was as senseless as an animal before you.

73:23 But I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.

73:24 You guide me by your wise advice, and then you will lead me to a position of honor.

77:18 Your thunderous voice was heard in the wind; the lightning bolts lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook.

77:19 You walked through the sea; you passed through the surging waters, but left no footprints.

77:20 You led your people like a flock of sheep, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

78:1 A well-written song by Asaph.

Pay attention, my people, to my instruction!

Listen to the words I speak!

78:2 I will sing a song that imparts wisdom; I will make insightful observations about the past.

78:3 What we have heard and learned – that which our ancestors have told us –

78:4 we will not hide from their descendants. We will tell the next generation about the Lord’s praiseworthy acts, about his strength and the amazing things he has done.

78:5 He established a rule in Jacob; he set up a law in Israel. He commanded our ancestors to make his deeds known to their descendants,

78:6 so that the next generation, children yet to be born, might know about them. They will grow up and tell their descendants about them.

78:7 Then they will place their confidence in God. They will not forget the works of God, and they will obey his commands.

78:8 Then they will not be like their ancestors, who were a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that was not committed and faithful to God.

78:9 The Ephraimites were armed with bows, but they retreated in the day of battle.

78:10 They did not keep their covenant with God, and they refused to obey his law.

78:11 They forgot what he had done, the amazing things he had shown them.

78:12 He did amazing things in the sight of their ancestors, in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan.

78:13 He divided the sea and led them across it; he made the water stand in a heap.

78:14 He led them with a cloud by day, and with the light of a fire all night long.

78:15 He broke open rocks in the wilderness, and gave them enough water to fill the depths of the sea.

78:16 He caused streams to flow from the rock, and made the water flow like rivers.

78:17 Yet they continued to sin against him, and rebelled against the sovereign One in the desert.

78:18 They willfully challenged God by asking for food to satisfy their appetite.

78:19 They insulted God, saying, “Is God really able to give us food in the wilderness?

78:20 Yes, he struck a rock and water flowed out, streams gushed forth.

But can he also give us food?

Will he provide meat for his people?”

78:21 When the Lord heard this, he was furious. A fire broke out against Jacob, and his anger flared up against Israel,

78:22 because they did not have faith in God, and did not trust his ability to deliver them.

78:23 He gave a command to the clouds above, and opened the doors in the sky.

78:24 He rained down manna for them to eat; he gave them the grain of heaven.

78:25 Man ate the food of the mighty ones. He sent them more than enough to eat.

78:26 He brought the east wind through the sky, and by his strength led forth the south wind.

78:27 He rained down meat on them like dust, birds as numerous as the sand on the seashores.

78:28 He caused them to fall right in the middle of their camp, all around their homes.

78:29 They ate until they were stuffed; he gave them what they desired.

78:30 They were not yet filled up, their food was still in their mouths,

78:31 when the anger of God flared up against them. He killed some of the strongest of them; he brought the young men of Israel to their knees.

78:32 Despite all this, they continued to sin, and did not trust him to do amazing things.

78:33 So he caused them to die unsatisfied and filled with terror.

78:34 When he struck them down, they sought his favor; they turned back and longed for God.

78:35 They remembered that God was their protector, and that the sovereign God was their deliverer.

78:36 But they deceived him with their words, and lied to him.

78:37 They were not really committed to him, and they were unfaithful to his covenant.

78:38 Yet he is compassionate. He forgives sin and does not destroy. He often holds back his anger, and does not stir up his fury.

78:39 He remembered that they were made of flesh, and were like a wind that blows past and does not return.

78:40 How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness, and insulted him in the desert!

78:41 They again challenged God, and offended the Holy One of Israel.

78:42 They did not remember what he had done, how he delivered them from the enemy,

78:43 when he performed his awesome deeds in Egypt, and his acts of judgment in the region of Zoan.

78:44 He turned their rivers into blood, and they could not drink from their streams.

78:45 He sent swarms of biting insects against them, as well as frogs that overran their land.

78:46 He gave their crops to the grasshopper, the fruit of their labor to the locust.

78:47 He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycamore-fig trees with driving rain.

78:48 He rained hail down on their cattle, and hurled lightning bolts down on their livestock.

78:49 His raging anger lashed out against them, He sent fury, rage, and trouble as messengers who bring disaster.

78:50 He sent his anger in full force; he did not spare them from death; he handed their lives over to destruction.

78:51 He struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their reproductive power in the tents of Ham.

78:52 Yet he brought out his people like sheep; he led them through the wilderness like a flock.

78:53 He guided them safely along, while the sea covered their enemies.

78:54 He brought them to the border of his holy land, to this mountainous land which his right hand acquired.

78:55 He drove the nations out from before them; he assigned them their tribal allotments and allowed the tribes of Israel to settle down.

78:56 Yet they challenged and defied the sovereign God, and did not obey his commands.

78:57 They were unfaithful and acted as treacherously as their ancestors; they were as unreliable as a malfunctioning bow.

78:58 They made him angry with their pagan shrines, and made him jealous with their idols.

78:59 God heard and was angry; he completely rejected Israel.

78:60 He abandoned the sanctuary at Shiloh, the tent where he lived among men.

78:61 He allowed the symbol of his strong presence to be captured; he gave the symbol of his splendor into the hand of the enemy.

78:62 He delivered his people over to the sword, and was angry with his chosen nation.

78:63 Fire consumed their young men, and their virgins remained unmarried.

78:64 Their priests fell by the sword, but their widows did not weep.

78:65 But then the Lord awoke from his sleep; he was like a warrior in a drunken rage.

78:66 He drove his enemies back; he made them a permanent target for insults.

78:67 He rejected the tent of Joseph; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim.

78:68 He chose the tribe of Judah, and Mount Zion, which he loves.

78:69 He made his sanctuary as enduring as the heavens above; as secure as the earth, which he established permanently.

78:70 He chose David, his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds.

78:71 He took him away from following the mother sheep, and made him the shepherd of Jacob, his people, and of Israel, his chosen nation.

78:72 David cared for them with pure motives; he led them with skill.

Levi’s Descendants

6:1 The sons of Levi:

Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

6:2 The sons of Kohath:

Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

6:3 The children of Amram:

Aaron, Moses, and Miriam.

The sons of Aaron:

Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

6:4 Eleazar was the father of Phinehas, and Phinehas was the father of Abishua. 6:5 Abishua was the father of Bukki, and Bukki was the father of Uzzi. 6:6 Uzzi was the father of Zerahiah, and Zerahiah was the father of Meraioth. 6:7 Meraioth was the father of Amariah, and Amariah was the father of Ahitub. 6:8 Ahitub was the father of Zadok, and Zadok was the father of Ahimaaz. 6:9 Ahimaaz was the father of Azariah, and Azariah was the father of Johanan. 6:10 Johanan was the father of Azariah, who served as a priest in the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem. 6:11 Azariah was the father of Amariah, and Amariah was the father of Ahitub. 6:12 Ahitub was the father of Zadok, and Zadok was the father of Shallum. 6:13 Shallum was the father of Hilkiah, and Hilkiah was the father of Azariah. 6:14 Azariah was the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah was the father of Jehozadak. 6:15 Jehozadak went into exile when the Lord sent the people of Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

6:16 The sons of Levi:

Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.

6:17 These are the names of the sons Gershom:

Libni and Shimei.

6:18 The sons of Kohath:

Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

6:19 The sons of Merari:

Mahli and Mushi.

These are the clans of the Levites by their families.

6:20 To Gershom:

His son Libni, his son Jahath, his son Zimmah, 6:21 his son Joah, his son Iddo, his son Zerah, and his son Jeatherai.

6:22 The sons of Kohath:

His son Amminadab, his son Korah, his son Assir, 6:23 his son Elkanah, his son Ebiasaph, his son Assir, 6:24 his son Tahath, his son Uriel, his son Uzziah, and his son Shaul.

6:25 The sons of Elkanah:

Amasai, Ahimoth, 6:26 his son Elkanah, his son Zophai, his son Nahath, 6:27 his son Eliab, his son Jeroham, and his son Elkanah.

6:28 The sons of Samuel:

Joel the firstborn and Abijah the second oldest.

6:29 The descendants of Merari:

Mahli, his son Libni, his son Shimei, his son Uzzah, 6:30 his son Shimea, his son Haggiah, and his son Asaiah.

Professional Musicians

6:31 These are the men David put in charge of music in the Lord’s sanctuary, after the ark was placed there. 6:32 They performed music before the sanctuary of the meeting tent until Solomon built the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem. They carried out their tasks according to regulations.

6:33 These are the ones who served along with their sons:

From the Kohathites:

Heman the musician, son of Joel, son of Samuel, 6:34 son of Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Eliel, son of Toah, 6:35 son of Zuph, son of Elkanah, son of Mahath, son of Amasai, 6:36 son of Elkanah, son of Joel, son of Azariah, son of Zephaniah, 6:37 son of Tahath, son of Assir, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, 6:38 son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, son of Israel.

6:39 Serving beside him was his fellow Levite Asaph, son of Berechiah, son of Shimea, 6:40 son of Michael, son of Baaseiah, son of Malkijah, 6:41 son of Ethni, son of Zerah, son of Adaiah, 6:42 son of Ethan, son of Zimmah, son of Shimei, 6:43 son of Jahath, son of Gershom, son of Levi.

6:44 Serving beside them were their fellow Levites, the descendants of Merari, led by Ethan, son of Kishi, son of Abdi, son of Malluch, 6:45 son of Hashabiah, son of Amaziah, son of Hilkiah, 6:46 son of Amzi, son of Bani, son of Shemer, 6:47 son of Mahli, son of Mushi, son of Merari, son of Levi.

6:48 The rest of their fellow Levites were assigned to perform the remaining tasks at God’s sanctuary. 6:49 But Aaron and his descendants offered sacrifices on the altar for burnt offerings and on the altar for incense as they had been assigned to do in the most holy sanctuary. They made atonement for Israel, just as God’s servant Moses had ordered.

6:50 These were the descendants of Aaron:

His son Eleazar, his son Phinehas, his son Abishua, 6:51 his son Bukki, his son Uzzi, his son Zerahiah, 6:52 his son Meraioth, his son Amariah, his son Ahitub, 6:53 his son Zadok, and his son Ahimaaz.

6:54 These were the areas where Aaron’s descendants lived:

The following belonged to the Kohathite clan, for they received the first allotment:

6:55 They were allotted Hebron in the territory of Judah, as well as its surrounding pasturelands. 6:56 (But the city’s land and nearby towns were allotted to Caleb son of Jephunneh.) 6:57 The descendants of Aaron were also allotted as cities of refuge Hebron, Libnah and its pasturelands, Jattir, Eshtemoa and its pasturelands, 6:58 Hilez and its pasturelands, Debir and its pasturelands, 6:59 Ashan and its pasturelands, and Beth Shemesh and its pasturelands.

6:60 Within the territory of the tribe of Benjamin they were allotted Geba and its pasturelands, Alemeth and its pasturelands, and Anathoth and its pasturelands. Their clans were allotted thirteen cities in all. 6:61 The rest of Kohath’s descendants were allotted ten cities in the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh.

6:62 The clans of Gershom’s descendants received thirteen cities within the territory of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh (in Bashan).

6:63 The clans of Merari’s descendants were allotted twelve cities within the territory of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.

6:64 So the Israelites gave to the Levites these cities and their pasturelands. 6:65 They allotted these previously named cities from the territory of the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.

6:66 The clans of Kohath’s descendants also received territory within the tribe of Ephraim. 6:67 They were allotted as cities of refuge Shechem and its pasturelands (in the hill country of Ephraim), Gezer and its pasturelands, 6:68 Jokmeam and its pasturelands, Beth Horon and its pasturelands, 6:69 Aijalon and its pasturelands, and Gath Rimmon and its pasturelands.

6:70 Within the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh, the rest of Kohath’s descendants received Aner and its pasturelands and Bileam and its pasturelands.

6:71 The following belonged to Gershom’s descendants:

Within the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan and its pasturelands and Ashtaroth and its pasturelands.

6:72 Within the territory of the tribe of Issachar: Kedesh and its pasturelands, Daberath and its pasturelands, 6:73 Ramoth and its pasturelands, and Anem and its pasturelands.

6:74 Within the territory of the tribe of Asher: Mashal and its pasturelands, Abdon and its pasturelands, 6:75 Hukok and its pasturelands, and Rehob and its pasturelands.

6:76 Within the territory of the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee and its pasturelands, Hammon and its pasturelands, and Kiriathaim and its pasturelands.

6:77 The following belonged to the rest of Merari’s descendants:

Within the territory of the tribe of Zebulun: Rimmono and its pasturelands, and Tabor and its pasturelands.

6:78 Within the territory of the tribe of Reuben across the Jordan River east of Jericho: Bezer in the desert and its pasturelands, Jahzah and its pasturelands, 6:79 Kedemoth and its pasturelands, and Mephaath and its pasturelands.

6:80 Within the territory of the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead and its pasturelands, Mahanaim and its pasturelands, 6:81 Heshbon and its pasturelands, and Jazer and its pasturelands.

Psalms

81:1 For the music director; according to the gittith style; by Asaph.

Shout for joy to God, our source of strength!

Shout out to the God of Jacob!

81:2 Sing a song and play the tambourine, the pleasant sounding harp, and the ten-stringed instrument!

81:3 Sound the ram’s horn on the day of the new moon, and on the day of the full moon when our festival begins.

81:4 For observing the festival is a requirement for Israel; it is an ordinance given by the God of Jacob.

81:5 He decreed it as a regulation in Joseph, when he attacked the land of Egypt. I heard a voice I did not recognize.

81:6 It said: “I removed the burden from his shoulder; his hands were released from holding the basket.

81:7 In your distress you called out and I rescued you. I answered you from a dark thundercloud. I tested you at the waters of Meribah. (Selah)

81:8 I said, ‘Listen, my people!

I will warn you!

O Israel, if only you would obey me!

81:9 There must be no other god among you. You must not worship a foreign god.

81:10 I am the Lord, your God, the one who brought you out of the land of Egypt.

Open your mouth wide and I will fill it!’

81:11 But my people did not obey me; Israel did not submit to me.

81:12 I gave them over to their stubborn desires; they did what seemed right to them.

81:13 If only my people would obey me!

If only Israel would keep my commands!

81:14 Then I would quickly subdue their enemies, and attack their adversaries.”

81:15 (May those who hate the Lord cower in fear before him!

May they be permanently humiliated!)

81:16 “I would feed Israel the best wheat, and would satisfy your appetite with honey from the rocky cliffs.”

88:1 A song, a psalm written by the Korahites; for the music director; according to the machalath-leannoth style; a well-written song by Heman the Ezrachite.

O Lord God who delivers me!

By day I cry out and at night I pray before you.

88:2 Listen to my prayer!

Pay attention to my cry for help!

88:3 For my life is filled with troubles and I am ready to enter Sheol.

88:4 They treat me like those who descend into the grave. I am like a helpless man,

88:5 adrift among the dead, like corpses lying in the grave, whom you remember no more, and who are cut off from your power.

88:6 You place me in the lowest regions of the pit, in the dark places, in the watery depths.

88:7 Your anger bears down on me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. (Selah)

88:8 You cause those who know me to keep their distance; you make me an appalling sight to them. I am trapped and cannot get free.

88:9 My eyes grow weak because of oppression. I call out to you, O Lord, all day long; I spread out my hands in prayer to you.

88:10 Do you accomplish amazing things for the dead?

Do the departed spirits rise up and give you thanks? (Selah)

88:11 Is your loyal love proclaimed in the grave, or your faithfulness in the place of the dead?

88:12 Are your amazing deeds experienced in the dark region, or your deliverance in the land of oblivion?

88:13 As for me, I cry out to you, O Lord; in the morning my prayer confronts you.

88:14 O Lord, why do you reject me, and pay no attention to me?

88:15 I am oppressed and have been on the verge of death since my youth. I have been subjected to your horrors and am numb with pain.

88:16 Your anger overwhelms me; your terrors destroy me.

88:17 They surround me like water all day long; they join forces and encircle me.

88:18 You cause my friends and neighbors to keep their distance; those who know me leave me alone in the darkness.

92:1 A psalm; a song for the Sabbath day.

It is fitting to thank the Lord, and to sing praises to your name, O sovereign One!

92:2 It is fitting to proclaim your loyal love in the morning, and your faithfulness during the night,

92:3 to the accompaniment of a ten-stringed instrument and a lyre, to the accompaniment of the meditative tone of the harp.

92:4 For you, O Lord, have made me happy by your work. I will sing for joy because of what you have done.

92:5 How great are your works, O Lord!

Your plans are very intricate!

92:6 The spiritually insensitive do not recognize this; the fool does not understand this.

92:7 When the wicked sprout up like grass, and all the evildoers glisten, it is so that they may be annihilated.

92:8 But you, O Lord, reign forever!

92:9 Indeed, look at your enemies, O Lord!

Indeed, look at how your enemies perish!

All the evildoers are scattered!

92:10 You exalt my horn like that of a wild ox. I am covered with fresh oil.

92:11 I gloat in triumph over those who tried to ambush me; I hear the defeated cries of the evil foes who attacked me.

92:12 The godly grow like a palm tree; they grow high like a cedar in Lebanon.

92:13 Planted in the Lord’s house, they grow in the courts of our God.

92:14 They bear fruit even when they are old; they are filled with vitality and have many leaves.

92:15 So they proclaim that the Lord, my protector, is just and never unfair.

93:1 The Lord reigns!

He is robed in majesty, the Lord is robed, he wears strength around his waist. Indeed, the world is established, it cannot be moved.

93:2 Your throne has been secure from ancient times; you have always been king.

Prayer

Lord, You have been faithful to Your covenant, including both the protection and provision for obedience and the negative consequences for disobedience. May I not complain when You chastise me as it is always a perfectly-proportional response to my disobedience.

Scripture In Perspective

The continuing genealogies in 1 Chronicles 3 – 5 maintain the archeological record for perspective and validation of David’s line. Family history was important at that time and remains such for many modern-day Jews.

Asaph’s Psalm, numbered seventy-three in the sequence, was his lament that he had allowed jealousy of the wealthy to cloud his perception of the Lord God and of his own life.

Asaph’s Psalm, numbered seventy-eight, was a wisdom-song in which he reviewed the long history of the Lord God’s protection and provision of His people, concluding with the reign of king David.

The continuing genealogies in 1 Chronicles 6 maintain the archeological record for perspective and validation of the Levite (priestly) line.

Asaph’s Psalm, numbered eighty-one, described the obligation of Israel to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) – per the NET translator’s notes – and linked that act of obedience to the Lord God’s intervention and rescue.

A Psalm by the Korahites, specifically Heman the Ezrachite, numbered eighty-eight was a petition for rescue.

Psalm Ninety-Two is not labeled as to the author, it has been speculated that it was of David, of Moses, of one of the Kohalites, or a high priest. It was a prayer of praise which emphasized the protective care of the Lord God in times of trouble. It contained this wisdom-text “How great are your works, O Lord! Your plans are very intricate! The spiritually insensitive do not recognize this; the fool does not understand this.”

Psalm Ninety-Three was unlabeled but likely from a High Priest or one of the Kohalites. It was a praise-prayer which celebrated the Lord God’s hand of power over the forces of the earth.

Interact With The Text

Consider

The history of the Lord God’s protection and provision of His people is amazing. He always kept His part of the covenant.

Discuss

Why would Asaph expect the Lord God to relent from His judgment of the nation of Israel after the long history of chronic rebellion?

Reflect

Asaph seemed to see mostly the consequences rather than the cause of Israel’s troubles.

Share

When have you troubles and later realized that if you had focused on the cause rather than the symptoms of the trouble you would have found relief sooner?

Faith In Action

Pray

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a list of times when He has protected and/or provided for you.

Act

Today I will give praise to the Lord God for His faithfulness, I will share the story with a fellow believer, and I will read Psalm seventy-eight several times this week as a reinforcement of my confidence in the Lord’s faithfulness.

Be Specific _____________________________________________

Saturday (1 Chronicles 7-10, Psalms 102-104)

Issachar’s Descendants

7:1 The sons of Issachar:

Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron – four in all.

7:2 The sons of Tola:

Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Jibsam, and Samuel. They were leaders of their families. In the time of David there were 22,600 warriors listed in Tola’s genealogical records.

7:3 The son of Uzzi:

Izrachiah.

The sons of Izrahiah:

Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Isshiah. All five were leaders.

7:4 According to the genealogical records of their families, they had 36,000 warriors available for battle, for they had numerous wives and sons. 7:5 Altogether the genealogical records of the clans of Issachar listed 87,000 warriors.

Benjamin’s Descendants

7:6 The sons of Benjamin:

Bela, Beker, and Jediael – three in all.

7:7 The sons of Bela:

Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri. The five of them were leaders of their families. There were 22,034 warriors listed in their genealogical records.

7:8 The sons of Beker:

Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alameth. All these were the sons of Beker. 7:9 There were 20,200 family leaders and warriors listed in their genealogical records.

7:10 The son of Jediael:

Bilhan.

The sons of Bilhan:

Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Kenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar. 7:11 All these were the sons of Jediael. Listed in their genealogical records were 17,200 family leaders and warriors who were capable of marching out to battle.

7:12 The Shuppites and Huppites were descendants of Ir; the Hushites were descendants of Aher.

Naphtali’s Descendants

7:13 The sons of Naphtali:

Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum – sons of Bilhah.

Manasseh’s Descendants

7:14 The sons of Manasseh:

Asriel, who was born to Manasseh’s Aramean concubine. She also gave birth to Makir the father of Gilead. 7:15 Now Makir married a wife from the Huppites and Shuppites. (His sister’s name was Maacah.)

Zelophehad was Manasseh’s second son; he had only daughters.

7:16 Maacah, Makir’s wife, gave birth to a son, whom she named Peresh. His brother was Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rekem.

7:17 The son of Ulam:

Bedan.

These were the sons of Gilead, son of Makir, son of Manasseh. 7:18 His sister Hammoleketh gave birth to Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah.

7:19 The sons of Shemida were Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam.

Ephraim’s Descendants

7:20 The descendants of Ephraim:

Shuthelah, his son Bered, his son Tahath, his son Eleadah, his son Tahath, 7:21 his son Zabad, his son Shuthelah

(Ezer and Elead were killed by the men of Gath, who were natives of the land, when they went down to steal their cattle. 7:22 Their father Ephraim mourned for them many days and his brothers came to console him. 7:23 He had sexual relations with his wife; she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. Ephraim named him Beriah because tragedy had come to his family. 7:24 His daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon, as well as Uzzen Sheerah),

7:25 his son Rephah, his son Resheph, his son Telah, his son Tahan, 7:26 his son Ladan, his son Ammihud, his son Elishama, 7:27 his son Nun, and his son Joshua.

7:28 Their property and settlements included Bethel and its surrounding towns, Naaran to the east, Gezer and its surrounding towns to the west, and Shechem and its surrounding towns as far as Ayyah and its surrounding towns. 7:29 On the border of Manasseh’s territory were Beth-Shean and its surrounding towns, Taanach and its surrounding towns, Megiddo and its surrounding towns, and Dor and its surrounding towns. The descendants of Joseph, Israel’s son, lived here.

Asher’s Descendants

7:30 The sons of Asher:

Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. Serah was their sister.

7:31 The sons of Beriah:

Heber and Malkiel, who was the father of Birzaith.

7:32 Heber was the father of Japhlet, Shomer, Hotham, and Shua their sister.

7:40 All these were the descendants of Asher. They were the leaders of their families, the most capable men, who were warriors and served as head chiefs. There were 26,000 warriors listed in their genealogical records as capable of doing battle.

Benjamin’s Descendants (Continued)

8:1 Benjamin was the father of Bela, his firstborn; Ashbel was born second, Aharah third, 8:2 Nohah fourth, and Rapha fifth.

8:6 These were the descendants of Ehud who were leaders of the families living in Geba who were forced to move to Manahath: 8:7 Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, who moved them. Gera was the father of Uzzah and Ahihud.

8:8 Shaharaim fathered sons in Moab after he divorced his wives Hushim and Baara. 8:9 By his wife Hodesh he fathered Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malkam, 8:10 Jeuz, Sakia, and Mirmah. These were his sons; they were family leaders. 8:11 By Hushim he fathered Abitub and Elpaal.

8:12 The sons of Elpaal:

Eber, Misham, Shemed (who built Ono and Lod, as well as its surrounding towns), 8:13 Beriah, and Shema. They were leaders of the families living in Aijalon and chased out the inhabitants of Gath.

8:26 Shamsherai, Shechariah, Athaliah, 8:27 Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zikri were the sons of Jeroham. 8:28 These were the family leaders listed in the genealogical records; they lived in Jerusalem.

8:29 The father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon; his wife’s name was Maacah. 8:30 His firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, 8:31 Gedor, Ahio, Zeker, and Mikloth.

8:32 Mikloth was the father of Shimeah. They also lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.

8:33 Ner was the father of Kish, and Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.

8:34 The son of Jonathan:

Meribbaal.

Meribbaal was the father of Micah.

8:35 The sons of Micah:

Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz.

8:36 Ahaz was the father of Jehoaddah, and Jehoaddah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza, 8:37 and Moza was the father of Binea. His son was Raphah, whose son was Eleasah, whose son was Azel.

8:38 Azel had six sons: Azrikam his firstborn, followed by Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.

8:39 The sons of his brother Eshek:

Ulam was his firstborn, Jeush second, and Eliphelet third. 8:40 The sons of Ulam were warriors who were adept archers. They had many sons and grandsons, a total of 150.

All these were the descendants of Benjamin.

9:1 Genealogical records were kept for all Israel; they are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Israel.

Exiles Who Resettled in Jerusalem

The people of Judah were carried away to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. 9:2 The first to resettle on their property and in their cities were some Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants. 9:3 Some from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim and Manasseh settled in Jerusalem.

9:4 The settlers included: Uthai son of Ammihud, son of Omri, son of Imri, son of Bani, who was a descendant of Perez son of Judah.

9:5 From the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn and his sons.

9:6 From the descendants of Zerah: Jeuel.

Their relatives numbered 690.

9:7 From the descendants of Benjamin:

Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Hodaviah, son of Hassenuah; 9:8 Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi, son of Mikri; and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, son of Reuel, son of Ibnijah.

9:9 Their relatives, listed in their genealogical records, numbered 956. All these men were leaders of their families.

9:10 From the priests:

Jedaiah; Jehoiarib; Jakin; 9:11 Azariah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub the leader in God’s temple; 9:12 Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pashhur, son of Malkijah; and Maasai son of Adiel, son of Jahzerah, son of Meshullam, son of Meshillemith, son of Immer.

9:13 Their relatives, who were leaders of their families, numbered 1,760. They were capable men who were assigned to carry out the various tasks of service in God’s temple.

9:14 From the Levites:

Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah a descendant of Merari; 9:15 Bakbakkar; Heresh; Galal; Mattaniah son of Mika, son of Zikri, son of Asaph; 9:16 Obadiah son of Shemaiah, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun; and Berechiah son of Asa, son of Elkanah, who lived among the settlements of the Netophathites.

9:17 The gatekeepers were:

Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their brothers. Shallum was the leader; 9:18 he serves to this day at the King’s Gate on the east. These were the gatekeepers from the camp of the descendants of Levi.

9:19 Shallum son of Kore, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, and his relatives from his family (the Korahites) were assigned to guard the entrance to the sanctuary. Their ancestors had guarded the entrance to the Lord’s dwelling place. 9:20 Phinehas son of Eleazar had been their leader in earlier times, and the Lord was with him. 9:21 Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the guard at the entrance to the meeting tent.

9:22 All those selected to be gatekeepers at the entrances numbered 212. Their names were recorded in the genealogical records of their settlements. David and Samuel the prophet had appointed them to their positions. 9:23 They and their descendants were assigned to guard the gates of the Lord’s sanctuary (that is, the tabernacle). 9:24 The gatekeepers were posted on all four sides – east, west, north, and south. 9:25 Their relatives, who lived in their settlements, came from time to time and served with them for seven-day periods. 9:26 The four head gatekeepers, who were Levites, were assigned to guard the storerooms and treasuries in God’s sanctuary. 9:27 They would spend the night in their posts all around God’s sanctuary, for they were assigned to guard it and would open it with the key every morning. 9:28 Some of them were in charge of the articles used by those who served; they counted them when they brought them in and when they brought them out. 9:29 Some of them were in charge of the equipment and articles of the sanctuary, as well as the flour, wine, olive oil, incense, and spices. 9:30 (But some of the priests mixed the spices.) 9:31 Mattithiah, a Levite, the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was in charge of baking the bread for offerings. 9:32 Some of the Kohathites, their relatives, were in charge of preparing the bread that is displayed each Sabbath.

9:33 The musicians and Levite family leaders stayed in rooms at the sanctuary and were exempt from other duties, for day and night they had to carry out their assigned tasks. 9:34 These were the family leaders of the Levites, as listed in their genealogical records. They lived in Jerusalem.

Jeiel’s Descendants

9:35 Jeiel (the father of Gibeon) lived in Gibeon. His wife was Maacah. 9:36 His firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 9:37 Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth. 9:38 Mikloth was the father of Shimeam. They also lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.

9:39 Ner was the father of Kish, and Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.

9:40 The son of Jonathan:

Meribbaal, who was the father of Micah.

9:41 The sons of Micah:

Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz.

9:42 Ahaz was the father of Jarah, and Jarah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza, 9:43 and Moza was the father of Binea. His son was Rephaiah, whose son was Eleasah, whose son was Azel.

9:44 Azel had six sons: Azrikam his firstborn, followed by Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.

Saul’s Death

10:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel. The Israelites fled before the Philistines and many of them fell dead on Mount Gilboa. 10:2 The Philistines stayed right on the heels of Saul and his sons. They struck down Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua. 10:3 The battle was thick around Saul; the archers spotted him and wounded him. 10:4 Saul told his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and stab me with it. Otherwise these uncircumcised people will come and torture me.” But his armor bearer refused to do it, because he was very afraid. So Saul took the sword and fell on it. 10:5 When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died. 10:6 So Saul and his three sons died; his whole household died together. 10:7 When all the Israelites who were in the valley saw that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. The Philistines came and occupied them.

10:8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip loot from the corpses, they discovered Saul and his sons lying dead on Mount Gilboa. 10:9 They stripped his corpse, and then carried off his head and his armor. They sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines proclaiming the news to their idols and their people. 10:10 They placed his armor in the temple of their gods and hung his head in the temple of Dagon. 10:11 When all the residents of Jabesh Gilead heard about everything the Philistines had done to Saul, 10:12 all the warriors went and recovered the bodies of Saul and his sons and brought them to Jabesh. They buried their remains under the oak tree in Jabesh and fasted for seven days.

10:13 So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord and did not obey the Lord’s instructions; he even tried to conjure up underworld spirits. 10:14 He did not seek the Lord’s guidance, so the Lord killed him and transferred the kingdom to David son of Jesse.

Psalms

102:1 The prayer of an oppressed man, as he grows faint and pours out his lament before the Lord.

O Lord, hear my prayer!

Pay attention to my cry for help!

102:2 Do not ignore me in my time of trouble!

Listen to me!

When I call out to you, quickly answer me!

102:3 For my days go up in smoke, and my bones are charred like a fireplace.

102:4 My heart is parched and withered like grass, for I am unable to eat food.

102:5 Because of the anxiety that makes me groan, my bones protrude from my skin.

102:6 I am like an owl in the wilderness; I am like a screech owl among the ruins.

102:7 I stay awake; I am like a solitary bird on a roof.

102:8 All day long my enemies taunt me; those who mock me use my name in their curses.

102:9 For I eat ashes as if they were bread, and mix my drink with my tears,

102:10 because of your anger and raging fury. Indeed, you pick me up and throw me away.

102:11 My days are coming to an end, and I am withered like grass.

102:12 But you, O Lord, rule forever, and your reputation endures.

102:13 You will rise up and have compassion on Zion. For it is time to have mercy on her, for the appointed time has come.

102:14 Indeed, your servants take delight in her stones, and feel compassion for the dust of her ruins.

102:15 The nations will respect the reputation of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth will respect his splendor,

102:16 when the Lord rebuilds Zion, and reveals his splendor,

102:17 when he responds to the prayer of the destitute, and does not reject their request.

102:18 The account of his intervention will be recorded for future generations; people yet to be born will praise the Lord.

102:19 For he will look down from his sanctuary above; from heaven the Lord will look toward earth,

102:20 in order to hear the painful cries of the prisoners, and to set free those condemned to die,

102:21 so they may proclaim the name of the Lord in Zion, and praise him in Jerusalem,

102:22 when the nations gather together, and the kingdoms pay tribute to the Lord.

102:23 He has taken away my strength in the middle of life; he has cut short my days.

102:24 I say, “O my God, please do not take me away in the middle of my life!

You endure through all generations.

102:25 In earlier times you established the earth; the skies are your handiwork.

102:26 They will perish, but you will endure. They will wear out like a garment; like clothes you will remove them and they will disappear.

102:27 But you remain; your years do not come to an end.

102:28 The children of your servants will settle down here, and their descendants will live securely in your presence.”

103:1 By David.

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

With all that is within me, praise his holy name!

103:2 Praise the Lord, O my soul!

Do not forget all his kind deeds!

103:3 He is the one who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases,

103:4 who delivers your life from the Pit, who crowns you with his loyal love and compassion,

103:5 who satisfies your life with good things, so your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.

103:6 The Lord does what is fair, and executes justice for all the oppressed.

103:7 The Lord revealed his faithful acts to Moses, his deeds to the Israelites.

103:8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful; he is patient and demonstrates great loyal love.

103:9 He does not always accuse, and does not stay angry.

103:10 He does not deal with us as our sins deserve; he does not repay us as our misdeeds deserve.

103:11 For as the skies are high above the earth, so his loyal love towers over his faithful followers.

103:12 As far as the eastern horizon is from the west, so he removes the guilt of our rebellious actions from us.

103:13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on his faithful followers.

103:14 For he knows what we are made of; he realizes we are made of clay.

103:15 A person’s life is like grass. Like a flower in the field it flourishes,

103:16 but when the hot wind blows by, it disappears, and one can no longer even spot the place where it once grew.

103:17 But the Lord continually shows loyal love to his faithful followers, and is faithful to their descendants,

103:18 to those who keep his covenant, who are careful to obey his commands.

103:19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven; his kingdom extends over everything.

103:20 Praise the Lord, you angels of his, you powerful warriors who carry out his decrees and obey his orders!

103:21 Praise the Lord, all you warriors of his, you servants of his who carry out his desires!

103:22 Praise the Lord, all that he has made, in all the regions of his kingdom!

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

104:1 Praise the Lord, O my soul!

O Lord my God, you are magnificent. You are robed in splendor and majesty.

104:2 He covers himself with light as if it were a garment. He stretches out the skies like a tent curtain,

104:3 and lays the beams of the upper rooms of his palace on the rain clouds. He makes the clouds his chariot, and travels along on the wings of the wind.

104:4 He makes the winds his messengers, and the flaming fire his attendant.

104:5 He established the earth on its foundations; it will never be upended.

104:6 The watery deep covered it like a garment; the waters reached above the mountains.

104:7 Your shout made the waters retreat; at the sound of your thunderous voice they hurried off –

104:8 as the mountains rose up, and the valleys went down – to the place you appointed for them.

104:9 You set up a boundary for them that they could not cross, so that they would not cover the earth again.

104:10 He turns springs into streams; they flow between the mountains.

104:11 They provide water for all the animals in the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.

104:12 The birds of the sky live beside them; they chirp among the bushes.

104:13 He waters the mountains from the upper rooms of his palace; the earth is full of the fruit you cause to grow.

104:14 He provides grass for the cattle, and crops for people to cultivate, so they can produce food from the ground,

104:15 as well as wine that makes people feel so good, and so they can have oil to make their faces shine, as well as food that sustains people’s lives.

104:16 The trees of the Lord receive all the rain they need, the cedars of Lebanon which he planted,

104:17 where the birds make nests, near the evergreens in which the herons live.

104:18 The wild goats live in the high mountains; the rock badgers find safety in the cliffs.

104:19 He made the moon to mark the months, and the sun sets according to a regular schedule.

104:20 You make it dark and night comes, during which all the beasts of the forest prowl around.

104:21 The lions roar for prey, seeking their food from God.

104:22 When the sun rises, they withdraw and sleep in their dens.

104:23 Men then go out to do their work, and labor away until evening.

104:24 How many living things you have made, O Lord!

You have exhibited great skill in making all of them; the earth is full of the living things you have made.

104:25 Over here is the deep, wide sea, which teems with innumerable swimming creatures, living things both small and large.

104:26 The ships travel there, and over here swims the whale you made to play in it.

104:27 All of your creatures wait for you to provide them with food on a regular basis.

104:28 You give food to them and they receive it; you open your hand and they are filled with food.

104:29 When you ignore them, they panic. When you take away their life’s breath, they die and return to dust.

104:30 When you send your life-giving breath, they are created, and you replenish the surface of the ground.

104:31 May the splendor of the Lord endure!

May the Lord find pleasure in the living things he has made!

104:32 He looks down on the earth and it shakes; he touches the mountains and they start to smolder.

104:33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God as long as I exist!

104:34 May my thoughts be pleasing to him!

I will rejoice in the Lord.

104:35 May sinners disappear from the earth, and the wicked vanish!

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

Praise the Lord!

Prayer

Lord, Your power and creativity, mercy and provision are manifest in Your Creation – even after the Fall. May I pause frequently to marvel at what You created and give praise and thanks.

Scripture In Perspective

Genealogies continued through 1 Chronicles 7 – 9, including notes as to important events.

The terse summary of 1 Chronicles 10 describes the end of Saul’s term as king gave emphasis to the reason that not only he but also his sons were allowed to be killed by the Philistines “10:13 So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord and did not obey the Lord’s instructions; he even tried to conjure up underworld spirits. 10:14 He did not seek the Lord’s guidance, so the Lord killed him and transferred the kingdom to David son of Jesse.”

David had previously been called an anointed as the next king so the people recognized and followed him.

Psalm 102 is a prayer of petition which includes wisdom “You endure through all generations. In earlier times you established the earth; the skies are your handiwork. They will perish, but you will endure. They will wear out like a garment; like clothes you will remove them and they will disappear. But you remain; your years do not come to an end.”

The Psalmist is not identified and though it is similar to David’s writing, the text

“You will rise up and have compassion on Zion. For it is time to have mercy on her, for the appointed time has come. Indeed, your servants take delight in her stones, and feel compassion for the dust of her ruins.”

suggests that that the events may be much later - after Jerusalem has been destroyed.

Psalm 103 is a praise-song of David which includes a great deal of wisdom: “Praise the Lord, O my soul! Do not forget all his kind deeds! He is the one who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases, who delivers your life from the Pit, who crowns you with his loyal love and compassion,” and “He does not deal with us as our sins deserve; he does not repay us as our misdeeds deserve. For as the skies are high above the earth, so his loyal love towers over his faithful followers. As far as the eastern horizon is from the west, so he removes the guilt of our rebellious actions from us.” and “For he knows what we are made of; he realizes we are made of clay.”

Psalm 104 is praise with wisdom “All of your creatures … When you take away their life’s breath, they die and return to dust. When you send your life-giving breath, they are created ...” The identity of the author was not included in the text.

Interact With The Text

Consider

Choices have consequences. Although the Lord God allowed Saul to serve as king for many years his rebellion eventually destroyed him and his family. The Psalmists agree that the Lord God is eternal and that His creation is temporary.

Discuss

Why did the Lord God allow David to be tested so severely, along with those around him, for so many years prior to him becoming king? Could it be that David’s own struggles enabled him to communicate the wisdom that the Lord God understands that we are fragile “clay”, that He understands our weakness and does not punish us as we deserve, He-alone can and does save us “from the pit”, and He-alone removes our guilt from us?

Reflect

Those around David earned the right to trusted authority and responsibility. The gift of life is from the Lord God.

Share

When have you experienced or observed someone being tested by the “fire” of challenging experiences prior to being promoted? When have you experienced or observed someone whose healing from a disease was clearly a miracle? Was the Lord God given credit and praise?

Faith In Action

Pray

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where the Lord God is testing you through challenges, and/or has done so in the past, as preparation for the future and to reveal to you a place in your life where the Lord God has granted mercy rather than than as your “misdeeds” deserved?

Act

Today I will celebrate the Lord’s preparation of me, even as I remember that during the time of testing I was not happy about it, and I will use that experience to encourage myself as current and future testing (trials) prepare me for the future. I will give grateful thanks and praise for the mercy of the Lord in my life and I will share that praise-report with a fellow believer as an encouragement.

Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.

Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.